[themaclad]

On a ground were we usually get sod all last night we got sod all, have no complaints about the result against a side who will be in the top division next season, the only disappointment though is the fact that both goals could really have been defended better but in saying that Rudd made four excellent saves to deny the home side.
Fisher's sending off looked from were a was but apparently we may be appealing it, but we shall see on that one.
First the good news won the football card on the coach so the trip cost me £15, we went  through a touch of snow which was still falling until right up to kick off and we got there so early that I managed to walk around the ground four times.

Seem to remember from last season the Lord's prayer painted on the ain stand however this has now gone to be replaced by signs for Sadler's Peaky Blinder Lager, though as the ramp up to the kick off began, the first verse of the Lord's prayer was put on the advertising boards at the same time as playing the film score of the Omen.
Johnson although being rated highly doubtful made a return as aso in came Nugent for Gallagher and Harrop, good quick start by both sides but Albion took an early lead Robinson cross from the left Robson-Kanu chested the ball down and scored past Rudd without any defender reactig quick enough.
Following the goal up to a point we didn't play badly between the two penalty areas but we rarely threated Johnstone in the Albion goal, but a marked difference was the speed of Albion's break as soon as we gave the ball away which we did on numerous times, Albion raced down field with the excellent Peirera involved in everything, class player this lad.
Our ex Robinson forced two great saves from Rudd, he was also denied by a great tackle by Bauer, we managed to survive until just before the break, again we lost the ball and it eventually found it's way to Robinson this time on the right his cross was again chested down by Robson-Kanu as the ball ran free Livermore's left footed strike found the bottom corner, game over.

The second half was damage limitations although if we had managed to get one back could have been interesting but once Fisher had gone for his lunge on Robinson there was little chance of that. Rudd made a great save from Austin and Harper pinged the top of the bar.
Not the only side to lose here this season and probably won't be the last.
Onto the banks of the Thames on Saturday for another tough task against Fulham

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rbwKuaYJwmw

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."