Follow live coverage as West Bromwich Albion face Preston North End in the Championship today.

An increasingly competitive second tier in English football remains an intense and exciting competition, with the prize of a place in the Premier League on offer at the end of the season.

Relegation from the top flight last term means Luton, Burnley and Sheffield United are all back in the second tier this term and will be expected to push for play-off spots again at least, but so too will Norwich City, an improving Coventry and beaten play-off finalists Leeds United. At the other end of the table, Wayne Rooney is aiming to revive Plymouth’s fortunes after they narrowly avoided relegation last year, with Portsmouth and Derby the teams promoted from League One along with play-off final winners Oxford.

Follow live updates from today’s game in the live blog below.

West Bromwich Albion FC 3 - 1 Preston North End FC

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:56

Match ends, West Bromwich Albion 3, Preston North End 1.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:56

Second Half ends, West Bromwich Albion 3, Preston North End 1.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:56

Kyle Bartley (West Bromwich Albion) is shown the yellow card.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:56

Offside, West Bromwich Albion. Devante Cole is caught offside.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:56

Attempt saved. Duane Holmes (Preston North End) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Emil Riis.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:56

Jordan Storey (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:56

Offside, Preston North End. Liam Lindsay is caught offside.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:56

Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:55

Attempt missed. Gianluca Frabotta (West Bromwich Albion) left footed shot from outside the box misses to the right following a corner.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:52

Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Liam Lindsay.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:51

Attempt blocked. Jed Wallace (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:51

Benjamin Whiteman (Preston North End) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:49

Foul by Benjamin Whiteman (Preston North End).

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:45

Attempt saved. Devante Cole (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:45

Foul by Milutin Osmajic (Preston North End).

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:44

Substitution, Preston North End. Will Keane replaces Mads Frökjaer-Jensen.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:43

Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Darnell Furlong.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:40

Foul by Milutin Osmajic (Preston North End).

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:40

Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Gianluca Frabotta replaces Callum Styles.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:37

Emil Riis (Preston North End) wins a free kick on the left wing.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:39

Attempt blocked. Mads Frökjaer-Jensen (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:37

Foul by Emil Riis (Preston North End).

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:37

Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Kyle Bartley.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:36

Attempt saved. Emil Riis (Preston North End) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Milutin Osmajic.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:33

Duane Holmes (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:33

Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Uros Racic replaces Josh Maja.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:33

Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Devante Cole replaces Karlan Grant.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:33

Liam Lindsay (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:33

Jack Whatmough (Preston North End) is shown the yellow card for hand ball.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:32

Hand ball by Jack Whatmough (Preston North End).

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:30

Goal! West Bromwich Albion 3, Preston North End 1. Ryan Ledson (Preston North End) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Milutin Osmajic.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:27

Foul by Grady Diangana (West Bromwich Albion).

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:27

Foul by Ryan Ledson (Preston North End).

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:25

Dangerous play by Milutin Osmajic (Preston North End).

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:25

Delay over. They are ready to continue.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:24

Delay in match (Preston North End).

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:22

Substitution, Preston North End. Ryan Ledson replaces Ali McCann.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:22

Substitution, Preston North End. Milutin Osmajic replaces Sam Greenwood.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:22

Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Grady Diangana replaces Mikey Johnston.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:18

Darnell Furlong (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:16

Ali McCann (Preston North End) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:15

Foul by Ali McCann (Preston North End).

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:13

Josh Maja (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:09

Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Kyle Bartley.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:09

Attempt missed. Ousmane Diakité (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from outside the box.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:09

Attempt blocked. Josh Maja (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Callum Styles.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:07

Foul by Mikey Johnston (West Bromwich Albion).

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:04

Second Half begins West Bromwich Albion 3, Preston North End 0.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:04

Substitution, Preston North End. Benjamin Whiteman replaces Stefán Thórdarson.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

16:04

Substitution, West Bromwich Albion. Jed Wallace replaces Tom Fellows.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

15:49

First Half ends, West Bromwich Albion 3, Preston North End 0.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

15:49

Sam Greenwood (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

15:49

Attempt blocked. Stefán Thórdarson (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

15:49

Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Ousmane Diakité.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

15:46

Fourth official has announced 2 minutes of added time.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

15:45

Attempt saved. Mikey Johnston (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

15:43

Stefán Thórdarson (Preston North End) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

15:43

Foul by Stefán Thórdarson (Preston North End).

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

15:41

Goal! West Bromwich Albion 3, Preston North End 0. Josh Maja (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

15:41

Attempt blocked. Stefán Thórdarson (Preston North End) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

15:36

Goal! West Bromwich Albion 2, Preston North End 0. Callum Styles (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom left corner. Assisted by Mikey Johnston following a corner.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

15:35

Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Jordan Storey.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

15:34

Attempt missed. Emil Riis (Preston North End) header from very close range.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

15:33

Sam Greenwood (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

15:33

Emil Riis (Preston North End) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

15:30

Attempt saved. Callum Styles (West Bromwich Albion) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

15:30

Foul by Sam Greenwood (Preston North End).

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

15:29

Attempt saved. Sam Greenwood (Preston North End) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Mads Frökjaer-Jensen.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

15:29

Attempt saved. Kaine Kesler-Hayden (Preston North End) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Sam Greenwood.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

15:23

Darnell Furlong (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

15:23

Attempt blocked. Josh Bowler (Preston North End) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

15:21

Corner, Preston North End. Conceded by Darnell Furlong.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

15:19

Goal! West Bromwich Albion 1, Preston North End 0. Josh Maja (West Bromwich Albion) left footed shot from the centre of the box.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

15:18

Attempt missed. Josh Maja (West Bromwich Albion) left footed shot from outside the box following a set piece situation.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

15:18

Josh Maja (West Bromwich Albion) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

15:15

Foul by Darnell Furlong (West Bromwich Albion).

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

15:13

Foul by Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion).

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

15:13

Attempt saved. Jayson Molumby (West Bromwich Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

15:13

Corner, West Bromwich Albion. Conceded by Jack Whatmough.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

15:04

Josh Bowler (Preston North End) wins a free kick on the right wing.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

15:01

First Half begins.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

14:30

Lineups are announced and players are warming up.

West Bromwich Albion vs Preston North End

13:00

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