Preston North End 1-0 West Bromwich Albion - Defeat increases pressure on Steve Bruce
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Steve Bruce has overseen just eight wins in 31 games in charge of West Brom
Further pressure was heaped on West Bromwich Albion manager Steve Bruce after defeat at Preston North End saw the Baggies slip in the relegation places.
Emil Riis met a fine cross from Manchester United loanee Alvaro Fernandez to turn home the early winner for the hosts.
Preston, who had scored just once in six home games before the Baggies visit, fully deserved the lead after making a fast start, which saw Sean Maguire test Alex Palmer and Alistair McCann have a follow-up effort cleared off the line.
Lilywhites goalkeeper Freddie Woodman made a string of second-half saves, the best of which was to deny Karlan Grant, to leave Bruce's Baggies winless in eight games in all competitions.
Bruce, who has overseen just eight wins out of 31 matches since he replaced Valerien Ismael at The Hawthorns in February, has spoken about needing to keep "bashing away" to improve results.
The ex-Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Birmingham City boss made six changes from the side beaten by Swansea on Saturday as they visited a Preston team that was winless in six games at home so far, and who had managed to score just three goals in 11 league games this season.
The Lilywhites showed plenty of early intent to add to that measly tally, with Maguire demanding a good save from Palmer - who was making his first league appearance for the Baggies at the age of 26 - before McCann was kept out from the rebound.
Riis put Preston ahead with a well-taken finish in the seventh minute and they could have had more before the break, with Maguire sending a shot just wide on the turn from outside the box before McCann saw an effort come off the post.
While Grady Diangana was just off target in search of a quick response to Riis' goal, West Brom had to wait until the 43rd minute for their first shot on goal, with Jed Wallace testing Woodman before John Swift did the same a minute later.
Woodman was instrumental in ensuring Preston ended their four-game winless run, as he saved well from Grant after the striker was set free on goal by a fine pass from Swift, before going on to deal with a tame effort from Tom Rogic.
West Brom manager Steve Bruce:
"We are all judged on results and they haven't been good enough. I will do my utmost to turn it around.
"I still believe we are capable of going on a run with the players we have - but at the moment, everybody is finding it tough.
"That [my future] is for other people. I hope [I will still be in charge at the weekend], I still think I am the right one to turn it around.
"I don't give up, not when it is tough. I don't have to do it. But I still get up in the morning and want to come to work. It still burns inside me, especially when it is like it is at the minute.
"But I hope I am given the time. If not, I fully understand I haven't been able to arrest a slide that has gone on for two-and-a-half years."
Preston boss Ryan Lowe:
"I always believe we will score goals because of the way we play and we should have been 3-0 up at half-time.
"We could have scored more but we got one and got three points and can build on that. It isn't relief, because we are doing alright.
"The performances have been outstanding, we've just not been getting three points."
"He [Steve Bruce] is a top guy and a top manager and sets his teams up well.
"In fairness, tonight they should have scored a couple of goals - but we were solid and resolute."