Okay Yokuslu scored a brace to help West Brom produce one of the most comfortable football results of the weekend in the Championship. After being at the bottom of the standings two months ago, the Turkish midfielder scored twice as the Baggies made it seven victories in a row and moved to within a point of the Sky Bet Championship play-off spots. Yokuslu scored two goals in as many minutes—36 and 58—to justly reward West Brom for their dominance. West Brom also hit the crossbar and the outside of a post and forced Freddie Woodman into three excellent saves. The Hawthorns’ first home sell-out in three and a half years, since the Championship Playoff Semifinal Second Leg against Aston Villa in May 2019, created an electrifying atmosphere as well.
Prior to Alvaro Fernandez’s low, angled shot that was simple for goalkeeper Alex Palmer, Preston was threatened with a reckless attempt from Ryan Ledson. Jayson Molumby’s low drive for West Brom in retaliation gave Woodman no trouble. In the 18th minute, Jed Wallace of Albion twice came agonizingly close to scoring the game’s first goal. First, after nutmegging Patrick Bauer, his side-footed attempt was deflected and grazed the outside of the far post. When the corner resulted, Woodman dove to his left and deflected his angled curling shot.
Ledson’s hefty touch was avoided by Yokuslu as he moved forward and fired a low shot from 25 yards away into the bottom corner of the goal. After the break, Albion carried more dangers with it. Prior to the Baggies doubling their advantage in the 58th minute, Molumby’s curling, dipping attempt hit the crossbar. Yokuslu scored once more, clinically putting the ball beyond Woodman from a distance of 10 yards. Ben Whiteman was put under pressure by the goalkeeper’s sloppy pass out, and John Swift, a substitute, unselfishly squared to his right to dislodge him.
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