Josh Maja and Daryl Dike scored as West Bromwich Albion beat Preston North End to extend their unbeaten run to eight games and climb five points clear of the Championship relegation zone.

Interim boss James Morrison has transformed the Baggies, who have taken 12 points during their undefeated run, to put some daylight between themselves and the bottom three.

Maja opened the scoring before Dike sealed the win with his first goal since the final day of last season.

The defeat at Deepdale ended Preston's four-game unbeaten run, and Paul Heckingbottom's side lost skipper Ben Whiteman early on to injury.

West Brom fans, meanwhile, made their unhappiness clear towards the English Football League over a potential points deduction for an alleged breach of profit and sustainability rules.

But they also chanted Morrison's name. They have seen their side register four clean sheets in their past five games at this critical point of the season, helping Albion move towards safety.

Maja scored in the 11th minute with his third goal in six games and sixth of the season.

Isaac Price weaved his way upfield and fed Aune Heggebo, who teed up Maja to score into the bottom-right corner from 10 yards.

West Brom could have had more, and Maja was just an inch away from connecting with Price's pass, before the Nigerian's lob past stranded Preston goalkeeper Daniel Iversen went just wide of the far post.

Despite being second best, Preston might have levelled when on-loan Tottenham midfielder Alfie Devine headed wide from Andrew Hughes' cross.

Preston improved after the break and goalkeeper Max O'Leary touched a Brad Potts header over at his back post from Jordan Thompson's cross.

Back came the Baggies, and Callum Styles, Price and Maja threatened before Dike wrapped up the victory in the 77th minute when he hammered the ball into the roof of the net from Jayson Molumby's cutback.

Preston produced a rousing finale, and Lewis Dobbin twice went close either side of O'Leary touching a Thierry Small corner onto his crossbar.

Preston manager Paul Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire:

"The better team won. They out-fought us in the first half. I don't often say that.

"That was one of the two disappointing facts; the fact they out-fought us in the first half and the fact that everything we prepared for, we just didn't execute.

"Sometimes if you don't give them the solutions, you are culpable. But we knew what we were going to face and we showed them at half-time what we were getting wrong, and for some reason, we didn't do it any better.

"We were better in the second half and we did OK until they scored their second goal. That was another poor goal from our point of view and we can have no complaints.

"So, yeah, a disappointing day. One of the worst. If you get out-fought, that can't happen. You can get beat, but not like that. I expect us to turn up and compete."

West Brom manager James Morrison told BBC WM:

"It was magical really. The performance that we gave was a typical away performance - and a clean sheet and two goals from our strikers tops it off really.

"It was a performance where we were under pressure, but I didn't feel we played with that pressure. I'm really pleased for them, all the hard work they have given us. Then the scenes at the end with the fans, it was a good afternoon's work.

"Everyone was working for each other. You could see when they had the ball, we had twos and threes around them. We were winning tackles and duels, so I'm very pleased with everyone because it was a good performance."

On moving five points clear of the relegation zone: "You never know with this league, what it can come up with, what it can give you because it's full of surprises.

"We'll enjoy the moment and then we're back in tomorrow. The players have got to work. We can't get away from the end goal."