A long punt up field was won by Hartson and it looked an unfair challenge but as with much of the afternoon the officials seemed to have had too much brandy on Christmas Day. The ball landed at the feet of Koumas who was allowed to turn inside onto his favoured right foot thanks to a combination of bad defending and slipping up by Alexander and St Ledger. The quality then told as the Welsh international buried past Nash from outside the box.
North End continued to press and the home side were reduced to playing on the break which was effective. Mckenna shot from 30 yards and forced a magnificent save from the Albion keeper. Mckenna was injured in the process and went off for treatment as North End took the corner. As the ball came in St Ledger was held back from getting the ball being pulled to the ground. The referee less than five yards away saw nothing wrong - the brany obviously had taken its toll. The ball was cleared and as Matty Hill hesitated in defence - perhaps his only mistake in what was his best performance in a Preston shirt - two home players worked the ball around him and past Nash.
In two attacks, West Brom were two up. The officials continued to dumbfound all. A ball was mis-hit as Preston came forward and it hit Robinson the Albion defender. It was difficult to say if it hit his arm or chest as his arm was by his side. He was also right on the edge of the area but once again the referee who failed to give a penalty earlier blew this time much to the bemusement of all in the ground. Mr Reliable, Alexander slotted home from the spot just beating the outstretched arms of the keeper.
Strange was the word of the day as Preston came forward they won a free kick and for no apparent reason the man causing all the trouble - Simon Whaley was taken off. Tommy Miller slotted into midfield and Sedgewick on the right. Whaley was as shocked as anyone as he went to sit on the bench a word was said by one of the first team staff and he headed down the tunnel.
Preston were right back in the game when the referee to the amazement of most gave a shocking decision. North End pumped the ball up and big Danny Dichio went across and banged in an Albion defender who to put it politely went down like a sack of spuds - he wasn't the only Albion player who was caught play acting. The referee fell hook line and sinker for the act sending the big man off for the alleged use of the elbow. Television replays are inconclusive and even the independent reporter for the BBC said he was unaware of the elbow.
Preston rallied until half time and came out in the second half much the stronger team. West Brom who had played on the break thus far did not know what to do with all the possession and Preston capitalised with Sedgewick crossing for Nugent to equalise.
More controversy followed a West Brom attack was broken up and the ball was played long to Nugent. Nugent beat the last man and was heading in on goal when he was tripper by the West Brom defence. The referee sixty yards behind place agreed with his assistant - who had also been on the brandy that Nugent who was ahead of the defender decided to trip him up and not the other way around!
That moment was crucial as the ball was pumped up and Albion won a free kick from a mis-timed tackle. Ellington who had just come on took the free kick which Nash had covered but it squirmed under his arms. The game in effect was over - Ellington dived looking for a penalty but did knock in a fourth as Preston were stretched going for an equaliser. Some last ditch tackling by Matty Hill kept things respectable for a scoreline that did not reflect the game.
The ten men were the better side and only thanks to some strange decisions by the linesman who need to learn the offside rule and the referee who only realised diving was a bookable offence in the last ten minutes.
In fairness West Brom played a lot better at Deepdale and lost. This division is wide open but I was not impressed by the home side despite a lot of talent. Thanks to no one in the top six winning apart from Birmingham, Preston stay second but desperately need to avoid four away defeats on the bounce at Sunderland.
The only thing that came out of Boxing Day was confirmation that Birmingham will now more than likely go on to win the league whilst Preston have it all to do to break away from the chasing pack. The performance was good, the result not so good but hopefully we can recover in time for a performance and hopefully better result on Saturday.