SEAN Gregan insists he has many fond memories of Deepdale. Saturday's appearance as the skipper of the opposition won't be one of them.

Making his first return to the field at Preston since his £2million switch to The Hawthornes nearly two years ago, the stage was set for it to be a dream day for OEGreegs' within 40 seconds of the kick-off.

The applause which greeted him from all sides of the ground as he ran out had barely finished echoing around when he looked poised to blast the second-placed Baggies into the lead.

He picked up on Neil Clement's free kick 15 yards from goal but sent it over the bar of Andy Lonergan's goal.

For North End, it looked like the start of a tricky afternoon. With five regular players - six if you include George Koumantarkis - out of action, Craig Brown was forced to rely on youth.

And things looked to be worsening rapidly when Dickson Etuhu was stretchered off the field about ending up at the bottom of a jumble which ensued following the free-kick.

Brown later admitted he had been relying on Etuhu to provide some height in the battle to protect North End from the Baggies' expected aerial assault on goal. As it happens, that bombardment never materialised and Michael Keane, on for Etuhu, went on to take man of the match with an impressive display at the heart of midfield.

After Darren Moore failed to capitalise on a floating ball in front of Preston's goal on 10 minutes, and Lee Hughes - booed throughout the match by North End fans who haven't forgiven him for his antics in getting Jonathan Gould sent off last August - struck wide from Clement's pass, North End sparked into life.

First David Healy put in a dangerous Richard Cresswell only just missed connecting with, before Ricardo Fuller was upended by Paul Robinson on the edge of Albion's penalty area.

Graham Alexander gently backheeled the free-kick to Eddie Lewis, who unleached a fantastic 25-yard shot into the roof of the Albion net.Albion attempted to pull level before the break, but despite turning Marlon Broomes, Geoff Horsefield still shot wide, and then Clement's 40-yard free kick sailed above Lonergan's goal. In between, Cresswell had failed to direct the ball past Russell Hoult despite having a free header as Albion's defence fell asleep.

Preston remained in the driving seat throughout the second half, despite early chances for West Brom.

Gregan almost gifted Preston their second when he sent a clumsy backpass to Hoult which Fuller tried to race on to. Only desperate diving from Hoult kept Fuller at bay.

Hoult then turned on the theatrics as Cresswell tackled him for a second lousy back-pass. As play resumed, Hoult writhed in apparent agony as he stumbled to return to his goal. Magically, though, after the game was halted he recovered to play on.

Preston's second came 15 minutes from time when Cresswell raced down the left, crossed the ball to the centre and Fuller, who, shackled by three defenders, played the ball to his right.

Healy raced on to it, and sent in a shot tight from the right through the flapping hands of Hoult

And North End could have made it three minutes later when Keane dispossessed Johnson to unleash a powerful drive from 25 yards which Hoult had to acrobatically send over the bar.

It became 3-0 on 86 minutes when Thomas Gaardsoe clumsily handled the ball in his own area. Alexander had no qualms with converting the penalty.

PNE 3 (Lewis, Healey, Alexander)

WEST BROM 0

Preston: Lonergan, Jackson, Broomes, Mears, Alexander, Lewis, McKenna, Healy, Etuhu, Fuller, Cresswell. Subs: Gould, Keane, Edwards, Burley, Abbott.

West Brom: Hoult, Gaardsoe, Moore, Gregan, Haas, Johnson, Kinsella, Clement, Robinson, Horsfield, Hughes. Subs: Murphy, James Chambers, Dyer, Skoubo, Koumas.

Referee: J Winter (Cleveland).