West Bromwich Albion 2-0 Preston North End: Darnell Fisher sees red as Baggies go seven clear
- Published
Midfielder Jake Livermore's goal was his third of the season for the Baggies
West Bromwich Albion moved seven points clear at the top of the Championship with a deserved victory that dented visitors Preston's promotion bid.
North End were reduced to 10 men with 25 minutes to go when Darnell Fisher was sent off for a reckless challenge, but the impressive Baggies had already taken full control of the game in wintery conditions.
Hal Robson-Kanu chested down Callum Robinson's left-wing cross and clipped the ball under Declan Rudd to open the scoring early on with his 10th goal of the campaign.
Moments before half-time, Jake Livermore fired in with a crisp half-volley from Robson-Kanu's knock-down to double the lead and the hosts could have added further goals after the break.
Victory was the Baggies' fifth in six games without a defeat and moved them 10 points clear of third-placed Nottingham Forest.
Preston stayed sixth but missed the chance to move within just three points of second-placed Leeds United, who travel to Middlesbrough on Wednesday.
But the Lilywhites did not lose ground on their two closest play-off rivals, as fifth-placed Brentford lost at Luton Town and seventh-placed Bristol City were beaten at Huddersfield Town - both by 2-1 scorelines.
Alex Neil's men were second best against the impressive league leaders and failed to have an effort on target in the match.
Their hopes of mounting a second-half comeback were severely dampened when Fisher was shown a straight red card for a poor challenge on the lively Robinson.
They were then fortunate that the hosts did not add to the scoreline, as Rekeem Harper struck the crossbar in the closing stages, after Rudd had saved well from substitute Charlie Austin.
West Bromwich Albion boss Slaven Bilic told BBC WM 95.6:
"We were playing against a team that is normally one of the top in the league. We got the ball in good areas and showed our technique on the ball. That was key.
"We were simply on another level today. Hal [Robson-Kanu] is a striker where his game doesn't depend on whether he's going to score or not because he's playing as a number 10.
"When he scores it's magnificent and the whole season he's been a top performer for us."
Preston North End manager Alex Neil:
"I think the biggest disappointment is the cheapness of the goals that we conceded but you have to give them credit as well, they are a quality side.
"We were going to have to play extremely well, be clinical and defend really well to get anything tonight. I didn't think we were clinical enough and we didn't defend our box well enough.
"We need to put this one behind us now because we have some big games coming up."