Preston player ratings vs West Brom as Vukcevic and Leroy impress in battling draw

Preston North End have earned their first point under Graham Alexander with a battling draw against West Brom.

It was a full-blooded first half from Preston, who pressed their opponents into a series of errors and really got the crowd going with big tackles.

Yet, they lacked cutting-edge quality in the attacking third to really make their promising moments count and West Brom were able to cut through repeatedly with dangerous attacks, forcing them into a lot of last gasp defending.

There was a sense it would be the same story, with a promising performance undone by a defensive error and the better side telling,

Yet, Preston took the initiative after the break and continued to test the goalkeeper. Eventually, they took a deserved lead when Andrew Hughes turned in a corner.

Sadly, the lead lasted just four minutes before Aune Heggebo slammed a loose ball home to equalise.

It was a performance that deserved a win but a point will have to do.

Here’s how the players rated.

Daniel Iversen - 8

Strong in his box when clearing corners. Some smart distribution out to the left. Kept a shot out in the second half from about a yard away. Could do noting about a goal deflected in after he had tipped an initial shot onto the post.

Odel Offiah - 7

Returned to the back-three and made a couple of really crucial interventions by getting his body in the way of attackers or ensuring danger was clear.

Jordan Storey - 7

In the heart of the defence and won some big headers, as well as one important clearance at an early corner.

Andrew Hughes - 7.5

Captain in Jordan Thompson’s absence and a lot better than last week at Wrexham. Some strong challenges and turned the ball in at the corner for the goal.

Stanley Mills - 6

Stanley Mills returned after suspension but was back at wing-back again, where he struggled with defensive positioning and left space for WBA to exploit. It was him who wasn’t close enough to his man in the build up to West Brom’s goal.

Worked very hard and tried to make things happen going forward, though, and should have got an assist when his brilliant low cross found Burgzorg at the back post.

Brad Potts - 6

Tidy and calm in the middle on the ball, though he squandered a great chance to set Mills away on the flank with an under-hit pass. Got stuck in in his first start of the season, but found it hard to get close to the Baggies’ talented midfielders in Molumby and Diakite at times.

Leo Leroy - 7

In a slightly more defensive role and it seemed to suit him with good battling in the middle. Nice touches and passes in possession, too, and dragged one shot just wide of the post in the first half.

Andrija Vukcevic - 7

Strong running down the left got Preston into their most-threatening positions in the first half. Some dangerous crosses but others he could have done better with. So much attacking means WBA did get some crossing opportunities from his flank, too.

Alfie Devine - 6.5

A tactical tweak saw Devine back in a central position behind two strikers rather than on the left of a three and he looked a lot more comfortable and up for it. Was able to get on the ball with some nice touches and passes, but couldn’t link up much with the forwards.

His huge sliding tackle at a sprint sparked Preston’s really strong period in the opening 45 and geed up the crowd. Off at the break with a presumed injury given his bright showing.

Delano Burgzorg - 5.5

Worked hard but the lack of quality when in possession led to some promising attacks coming to nothing, like one instance when he could have passed to Devine in a lot of space but opted to shoot instead. It was blocked. When played through by Kenny just after the break, his effort was saved.

Did tee up Kenny in the first half and created the move that won the corner PNE scored from. His is movement and energy did help the side.

Johnny Kenny - 7

Let fly and stung the palms of the goalkeeper in the opening minutes but was quiet in the first-half. Moved to the left of the front-two in the second and immediately looked brighter with a through ball into Burgzorg. Forced a good save and looked dangerous. Had to be taken off with 20 to go as still lacking fitness.

Substitutes

Andy Moran - 6.5

On at half-time and looked bright with nice passes forward. Hit one chance wide but positive on the ball. Lucky to escape with a yellow for one nasty tackle, but the referee gave leniency given the slippy conditions.

Callum Lang - 6

Good energy but got little on the ball.

Jusef Erabi - 6.5

Maintained the pressing work of Kenny by winning the ball in dangerous areas, but when he got into one position, in plenty of space, his shot went for a throw-in, but minutes later won the corner Hughes scored from.