Preston North End have their work cut out for them as they welcome high-flying West Brom this Saturday to Deepdale. 

After suffering back-to-back-to-back losses to Wrexham, Birmingham, and Millwall, Graham Alexander’s start to his North End tenure has been far from ideal. 

A 4-1 loss in Wales last weekend with the old club captain scoring most definitely added salt to the wounds, especially with the celebration afterwards. 

However, Alexander has been looking for the positives in the losses, particularly with the amount of bodies that were in the box for the Lilywhite’s equalising goal in the first half. 

Little victories to keep spirits at a level during a terrible time for the club. 

All focus to Saturday as the aim to get their first win on the board under the new gaffer and a second for the season, the form has to pick up and quick.

Their opponents are a hard-working, technical, and tough side, James Morrison has got West Brom performing despite what the stats may say, picking up great results on their to a potential surprise package.

Team Form

West Brom have started the season exceptionally well, overperfomlng if you look at the metrics, but James Morrison justifiably has them in the play-off spots. 

Football is a results based business and ‘The Baggies’ have done just that with six wins so far this season and losing only three. 

Their last two games saw victories in both, with the Black Country side coming bak against Blackburn Rovers to snatch all three points last weekend, and a 2-1 away win at Wrexham displayed a true display of character and grit to get a result – scoring twice in the last 11 minutes. 

Team News

Graham Alexander has confirmed that there are a number of absentees from the North End squad this weekend.

Lewis Gibson, Liam Gibbs, and Harry Clarke will all miss out with various injuries, damaging North End’s depth. 

Ali McCann is still nowhere near a return to the side after suffering from a hamstring injury since August. 

Jordan Thompson will also miss the game through suspension after accumulating too many yellow cards. 

For West Brom, Toby Collyer is absent through injury, Mikey Johnston’s ankle will also keep him out, and Nolan Galves will be out for the rest of the season after suffering from a ‘significant’ knee injury. 

The Danger Men

Isaac Price

Isaac Price has become one of West Brom’s key attacking threats this season, combining intelligent movement with technical ability and an eye for goal. The Northern Ireland international can operate centrally or out wide, using his ability to carry the ball forward and find pockets of space between the lines to cause problems for opposition defences.

Price’s influence has been evident in the early stages of the campaign, contributing six goals and assists so far this season while providing an important link between midfield and attack. His ability to arrive late in the box and exploit defensive gaps makes him a player Preston North End cannot afford to lose track of, particularly given their recent struggles to contain opposition attackers.

Preston must ensure Price is denied the time and space to dictate play around the penalty area. Their midfielders will need to close him down quickly, while the defence must remain alert to his late runs and prevent him from turning in dangerous areas.

Jimmy-Jay Morgan

Jimmy-Jay Morgan has emerged as an exciting young attacking talent for West Brom, offering pace, energy and intelligent movement across the forward line. The 20-year-old is capable of operating in different attacking positions, using his ability to run in behind and find space inside the penalty area to trouble defenders.

Morgan has made an impressive start to the season, contributing six goals and assists and demonstrating his potential to become an important figure in West Brom’s attack. His willingness to press defenders and link up with teammates could prove particularly troublesome for Preston, whose defensive organisation has come under scrutiny following recent heavy defeats.

North End must remain compact and communicate effectively to prevent Morgan from exploiting gaps between their defensive lines. The centre-backs will need to monitor his movement closely, while the midfield must limit the supply into his feet and prevent him from receiving the ball in dangerous areas.

Callum Styles

Callum Styles offers West Brom a different attacking dimension from left-back, combining energy, versatility and an ability to support attacks from deep. The Hungary international is comfortable carrying the ball forward, delivering into the penalty area and linking up with teammates in wide positions, making him an important outlet in the Baggies’ build-up play.

Styles has established himself as a regular this season, contributing goals while creating opportunities for his teammates. His willingness to push forward could cause Preston problems, particularly if they allow him the freedom to overlap and create numerical advantages down the flank.

Preston will need their wide players to track Styles’ forward runs, while the midfield must provide cover to prevent him from delivering dangerous crosses. However, PNE could also look to exploit the space he leaves behind when advancing, using quick counter-attacks to turn his attacking instincts into a potential weakness.

XI Prediction 

Preston North End (4-4-2)

Daniel Iversen, Odeluga Offiah, Jordan Storey, Liam Lindsay, Andrija Vukcevic, Thierry Small, Leo Leroy, Andrew Moran, Stanley Mills, Alfie Devine, Johnny Kenny

West Brom (4-4-2)

Max O’Leary, Brayaan Pereira, Chris Mepham, George Campbell, Callum Styles, Osuman Diakite, Jayson Molumby, Rabbi Nzingoula, Jimmy Jay Morgan, Aune Heggebo

Score Prediction: Preston North End 1-0 West Brom

Something’s got to give at some point surely? Maybe this is more of a want rather than a well-thought out prediction. 

A gut feeling that North End are just going to turn up and defy the odds, claim the three points and provide themselves a platform of which to build from is very much on the cards, or maybe it’s a hospital trip for myself. 

Statically, the league’s biggest overperformers are facing the biggest underperformers, just giving me the feeling that we’re going to see a display that is uncanny to the one that happens in your football manager simulations.