Preston North End manager Graham Alexander described Saturday's 1-1 Championship draw with West Bromwich Albion as a step in the right direction, even as his side were denied all three points late on at Deepdale.

The result brought a measure of relief after a turbulent run of form for Preston, who have leaned heavily on Alexander's call for "significant change" in the squad's mentality and application. A draw against one of the division's most experienced sides offered a different conversation from the one that followed the 4-1 defeat to Wrexham.

What the draw meant for Preston

Preston had gone into the fixture under pressure, with Alexander publicly acknowledging that the club needed more from its players. A share of the spoils against West Brom, who have developed a reputation as the Championship's most persistent comeback side this season, suggested the mood inside the dressing room has begun to shift.

Alexander spoke after the final whistle to BBC Radio Lancashire and framed the result as evidence of progress, emphasising that the performance carried more weight than the scoreline alone. For a Preston side that has struggled for consistency at home this season, holding West Brom to a draw represented something worth building on.

West Brom's relentless character

West Brom's ability to take something from a game in which they might have fallen short has been one of the defining traits of their second-tier campaign. Their squad depth, highlighted in recent weeks by head of recruitment Chris Price, allowed them to absorb pressure and respond when Preston pushed for a winner.

The Baggies' equaliser underlined the threat they carry throughout their squad rather than relying on a single creative outlet. West Brom's willingness to keep going until the end has frustrated opponents all season, and Preston felt the full force of that resilience on this occasion.

The bigger picture for Preston

Alexander took over at Deepdale tasked with steadying a squad that had lurched from inconsistency to outright demoralising results. The Wrexham defeat raised questions about the team's character, but the response against West Brom pointed to a group that listened and reacted.

Preston remain in the lower reaches of the table, and the margin for error across the rest of the season is slim. But Alexander's message after the final whistle was clear: he saw enough in the way his side competed to use the result as a foundation rather than a footnote.

The challenge now is to carry the same defensive organisation and competitive edge into the fixtures that follow. Preston face opponents with little sympathy for sides in transition, and Alexander will know that a draw against West Brom counts for nothing if it stands alone as a moment of solidity amid further defeats.

For West Brom, the point keeps their own campaign moving, with their position in the upper half of the table still intact. Their capacity to grind out results on difficult afternoons has become one of the more reliable features of the second tier this season, and this latest draw continued that pattern.

Frequently asked

What was the result of Preston vs West Brom?
The Championship match between Preston North End and West Bromwich Albion ended 1-1 at Deepdale.
What did Graham Alexander say after the Preston vs West Brom draw?
Alexander described the result as a step forward for his side, speaking to BBC Radio Lancashire after the final whistle.
How did the Preston vs West Brom draw affect the Championship table?
Both clubs shared one point each. Preston remain in the lower half of the table while West Brom continue to sit comfortably in the upper reaches of the division.