West Brom leapfrog Leeds at the top of the Championship after battling win against Alex Neil’s Preston

Preston North End 0 West Bromwich Albion 1

If West Bromwich Albion had got their way in April, Alex Neil would be their manager now but it is an understatement to say life under Slaven Bilic has its compensations.

Charlie Austin’s last-minute penalty took the Croatian’s team back to the top of the Championship as they extended their best start to a season in 66 years with a fifth straight win. In becoming the first visitors to win at Deepdale this season, Albion ensured they now boast the division’s only unbeaten home record.

If it was a reward for patience, probing and first-half pressure, the goal also brought vindication for Bilic. He had made something of surprise substitution when he removed Matt Phillips, Albion’s most threatening player in the first half, for Kyle Edwards. The homegrown winger was brought down by Preston goalkeeper Declan Rudd for the spot kick that Austin converted calmly.

Yet while a depleted Preston team were eventually defeated, going down to their third consecutive loss, it was only after a performance that illustrated why Albion had wanted Neil to replace the sacked Darren Moore in the spring. Preston showed the spirit and organisation to suggest that, when they get key players back, they can sustain a promotion push that has surprised most outside Deepdale.

And if it seemed the worst time for Preston to face the Championship’s most potent side, Neil drew a fine response to Wednesday’s 4-0 thrashing at Hull. He was without five sidelined defenders, including all of his first-choice back four, and while Alan Browne returned, North End’s best midfielder was required at right-back.

But Preston demonstrated a can-do mentality. Daniel Johnson excelled with a covering challenge when Grady Diangana evaded Browne just as the back-up centre-back Jordan Storey impressed when he cut out Matt Phillips’ dangerous cross.

Albion were sparked to life by their youngest player. The teenager Nathan Ferguson surged forward, a solo run carrying him 60 yards, before unleashing a shot that Rudd tipped over the Preston bar. Phillips took on the mantle as he threatened four times in 15 minutes. He whipped a shot narrowly wide and drew two saves from Rudd, one a fingertip stop, while curling in a free kick that Kyle Bartley volleyed just past the far post.

Preston weathered the Albion storm at the end of the first half and began the second period in altogether more impressive fashion. Preston had mustered a solitary chance before the break, after Sean Maguire somehow wriggled clear. His shot has sufficient ferocity that it knocked Sam Johnstone off his feet, but came from such an acute angle that he was never likely to score.

The goalkeeper had to make a better stop after the interval to tip Johnson’s shot past the post. Previously comfortable, Albion were suddenly reeling. Ferguson had to make a goal-line clearance to prevent Browne’s crisp drive from going in while, from the Irishman’s resulting corner, Jayden Stockley headed over an unguarded goal. Both Johnson and Browne impressed as Preston showed quality to accompany their grit.

Yet, aided by Bilic’s changes, the pendulum swung Albion’s way again. Just when it seemed this was a rare game when they would miss last season’s prolific partnership of Jay Rodriguez and Dwight Gayle, Austin’s fifth Albion goal kept their winning run going and allowed them to leapfrog Leeds in the table.

Match details

Preston (4-1-4-1): Rudd; Browne, Huntington, Storey, Rafferty; Pearson; Barkhuizen, Potts (Harrop 88), Johnson, Maguire (Nugent 90); Stockley.

Substitutes: Ripley (g), Bayliss, Ledson, Armer, Bodin

West Bromwich Albion (4-2-3-1): Johnstone; Ferguson, Bartley, Ajayi, Gibbs; Livermore, Sawyers; Phillips (Edwards 61), Pereira, Diangana (Austin 75); Robson-Kanu (Krovinovic 85).

Substitutes: Bond (g), Furlong, Krovinovic, Barry, Hegazi.

Booked: Ajayi

Referee: Oliver Langford (West Midlands)

Attendance: 13,015