'Carlos has done it': Paul Heckingbottom delivers honest verdict on West Brom ahead of Preston North End clash

West Brom will look to remain unbeaten for a tenth consecutive match when they return to Championship action this afternoon. An away trip to Deepdale will mark their their last game of the month as Preston North End await their arrival.

Only two clubs in England’s second division can better West Brom’s tally of 11 goals conceded so far this season. Albion have been able to keep tight at the back, which has helped them limit their defeats to just two since the campaign started. However, Carlos Corberán and his side are in a strange spot, as their latest run of results has flagged up a lack of creativity going forwards.

West Brom haven’t lost a match since October 1st against Middlesbrough. Since then, five of their nine games have ended in 0-0 draws and they have come away with a win on just one occasion — a 2-1 affair against Hull City.

Josh Maja has been the star of the show in Corberán’s attack, scoring 10 goals in 17 Championship appearances so far, including his opening day hat-trick against Queens Park Rangers. But the 25-year-old’s tally makes up more than 50 percent of the Baggies’ overall league goal return this season. Albion have scored on just eight other occasions but with Preston shipping 24 goals, they’ll be hoping to capitalise this afternoon in Lancashire.

PNE manager Paul Heckingbottom assessed his side’s opponents as they search for their first win in seven games. The 47-year-old highlighted West Brom’s strengths and admitted he knows his side are in for a tough encounter in their neck of the woods.

“We know it’s going to be tough. Carlos has done it at Huddersfield and West Brom, where he’s set up in a similar way,” Heckingbottom told the Preston North End website. “They can be good in possession or they can be really strong without the ball and good on the counter, so we know it’s going to be tough. We know it’s going to be a tight game.

“We have to approach it the way we approach all games and set out to try and win it and try and cause them as many problems as we can to get three points.”

Preston are currently down the table in 19th, just two points above the relegation zone. If they fail to pick up any points this weekend, they run the risk of dropping into the bottom three. Meanwhile, West Brom are eyeing up the competition for a spot in the play-offs and are only outside the top six on goal difference. A win and some defeats for others would see Albion move comfortably inside the bracket.