Preston North End and West Bromwich Albion shared the points at Deepdale on Saturday in a Championship draw that will feel rather different to each dressing room: encouragement tempered by frustration for the visitors, and genuine relief for a Preston side battling to pull clear of danger at the bottom of the table.

West Brom's possession counts for little

According to BBC Radio 5 Live reporter Adam Cottier, West Brom had enjoyed 75% possession by half-time. In sodden conditions that rarely suit passing football, that is a remarkable dominance of the ball. The problem, as Cottier observed, was that decision-making and the final pass repeatedly let James Morrison's side down. Neat approach play, yes. Conviction in the final third, rather less so.

West Brom have accumulated 11 points from losing positions this season, which is an honest measure of a squad that refuses to fold. Morrison, still early in his managerial tenure, appears to be instilling something tangible in terms of character. But character alone will not sustain a promotion challenge if clinical finishing remains this elusive.

Preston improve and take the lead

For Preston, the match was a story of patience. They had been second best for much of the opening period but, according to the report, they improved markedly in the second half and scored having played what was described as their best half of football for quite some time. At a club that has endured a deeply difficult run, that is not a trivial detail. Manager Paul Simpson's side have been starved of momentum, and moments of genuine quality have been in short supply.

The goal gave Deepdale real hope, and Preston's supporters have had precious little of that to cling to. With the club still in the thick of a relegation fight, any half of football that merits that kind of description represents progress, however modest.

The leveller and the controversy

West Brom's equaliser arrived amid controversy. Cottier noted that a throw-in awarded to the Baggies in the build-up was disputed, and the goal that followed left Preston feeling aggrieved. The reporter also observed that West Brom were perhaps fortunate not to concede one or two penalties before the final whistle. Championship referees rarely escape a Saturday unscathed, but the volume of late decisions here made this one more contentious than most.

For Preston, the draw is a single point added to a tally that remains uncomfortably low. Their relegation fight is real and ongoing. Four points from their last several matches have kept a sliver of daylight between the club and the bottom three, but the margin is thin and the games are running out. A point at home to a side pushing for promotion is not nothing, but it will only feel like enough if results elsewhere co-operate.

What it means for each side

West Brom will take note of both the positives and the warnings from this trip to Lancashire. Their ability to respond under pressure is genuine and their revival under Morrison is a matter of record. But the promotion picture in the Championship is unforgiving, and sides that dominate possession without converting that dominance into goals tend to pay for it over the course of a long season.

For Preston, the task remains straightforward if uncomfortable: points on the board, games at a time, and the hope that their best football is returning at the right moment in the calendar. Saturday offered a fragment of evidence that it might be. That will have to do for now.

Frequently asked

What was the result between Preston and West Brom at Deepdale?
The match ended in a draw, with Preston scoring first before West Brom levelled in what was a contested finish at Deepdale.
Where do Preston North End stand in the Championship relegation fight?
Preston remain in a precarious position near the bottom of the Championship table, with the gap between them and the relegation zone tight and few matches remaining.
How is James Morrison doing as West Brom manager?
According to reports, Morrison's West Brom have shown genuine character under his management, taking 11 points from losing positions this season, though finishing remains an issue.