Match Report

Graham Dorrans enhanced his growing reputation with West Bromwich Albion as his stunning strike ultimately proved decisive in the Baggies' 3-2 win against Preston North End at The Hawthorns.

Scotland international Dorrans struck with a 30-yard free-kick in the 33rd minute to take his tally for the season to 16 as Albion moved another step closer to promotion with a sixth successive home win.

The victory ensured second-placed Albion kept their commanding advantage over their nearest rivals, Nottingham Forest, but it was far from plain-sailing against a determined Preston who twice found themselves trailing by two goals.

Albion made the perfect start when Ben Watson, with his first goal after his arrival on-loan from Wigan, and Chris Brunt fired them into a 2-0 lead after just nine minutes.

Preston were handed a lifeline in the 15th minute by Sean St Ledger before Dorrans struck.

Neil Mellor's strike two minutes before half time handed Preston fresh hope but an equaliser was beyond them - with Albion old boy Richard Chaplow seeing their best chance saved by Scott Carson in the 51st minute.

In fact, Albion could have raced to a more convincing win but for the second-half heroics of Preston goalkeeper Andy Lonergan who denied Brunt, Watson and Ishmael Miller with stunning saves.

The defeat ended Preston's five-match unbeaten run but manager Darren Ferguson could take heart from the test that they posed Albion and the way they twice battled their way back into the game.

Albion capitalised on some excellent approach play to power in to their early 2-0 lead. Robert Koren picked out Watson who beat Lonergan from ten yards.

Dorrans then turned provider for Brunt with a defence-splitting pass that was converted with a left-foot drive by the Northern Ireland international winger.

After making such a nightmare start, Preston could easily have wilted. However, their response was swift and deserved after an impressive spell of play.

Albion failed to heed a warning when Carson tipped away a header from Chris Sedgwick after a cross by the lively Ross Wallace. From the resulting corner, Wallace picked out the unmarked St Ledger and he powered a header beyond Carson.

But Preston were unable to build on St Ledger's fifth goal of the season and found themselves trailing again by two goals following the stunning strike of Dorrans.

After Miller had been fouled, Dorrans strode forward to curl his free-kick beyond the outstretched fingers of Lonergan.

If Albion thought opening up a two-goal lead for the second time would be good enough to end the challenge of Preston they were proved wrong by Mellor.

Again, Wallace was the provider with a sweeping ball from inside his own half. Mellor raced clear of Gabriel Tamas and took the ball to the right-hand side of the area before firing his angled drive beyond Carson but that was ultimately as good as it got for Preston despite enjoying more than their fair share of pressure in the second half.

Corners

Fouls

Goal attempts

Shots off target

Offsides