Preston boosted their play-off hopes with a surprisingly comfortable win against promotion-chasing West Brom at Deepdale.

Midfielder Eddie Lewis fired home his fourth goal of the season to put Preston ahead 12 minutes before half-time.

Northern Ireland international David Healy added a second 15 minutes from time with a fine finish and Graham Alexander completed the rout with a late penalty.

But Preston's hopes of recording their first home win in four looked to have suffered a huge setback in the first five minutes with a serious injury to Dickson Etuhu.

The midfielder was stretchered off with a suspected broken leg following a collision involving several players.

Manager Craig Brown brought on Michael Keane, but the home side refused to let the setback unsettle them as Paul McKenna went close with a shot from outside the box.

Goalkeeper Andy Lonergan, making his first appearance for Preston in nearly three years after Jonathan Gould failed to recover from a thigh strain, made the first save of the game in the 11th minute.

Lonergan showed he was not to be overawed by the occasion in keeping out a 25-yard strike from former Aston Villa midfielder Mark Kinsella.

But United States international Lewis put Preston in front when he rifled a free-kick into the roof of the net from just outside the area after Ricardo Fuller was upended by Andy Johnson.

The home supporters had clamoured for a penalty, but referee Jeff Winter's play-on decision made no difference as Lewis broke the deadlock with an unstoppable shot.

Albion forward Geoff Horsfield created a yard of space to squeeze in a shot soon after, but his effort was wide.

But the visitors had goalkeeper Russell Hoult to thank for keeping down the score as he pushed Healy's 20-yard strike round the post.

Preston continued to press as Alexander cleared the bar with a rising drive, while Richard Cresswell got above the defence only to head wide.

Lonergan proved his worth once again five minutes into the second half when he tipped Thomas Gaardsoe's powerful header over the bar from a Johnson corner.

At the other end, Lewis went close to grabbing his second when he dragged his shot across the face of the goal, narrowly missing the right post.

Baggies boss Gary Megson decided to ring the changes midway through the second half, with Jason Koumas and Lloyd Dyer coming on for Neil Clement and Kinsella.

Megson then brought on Denmark international Morten Skoubo for his debut, but within three minutes Preston stretched their lead.

Richard Cresswell did well to lay the ball off to Fuller, who squared it into the path of Healy and his shot was palmed into the back of the net by Hoult.

Cresswell went close with a header, while Preston keeper Lonergan made another fine stop to keep out a shot from Darren Moore.

But Preston clinched the points three minutes from time when Gaardsoe was penalised for handball and Alexander blasted in the resulting spot-kick.

Preston Lonergan, Jackson, Broomes, Mears, Alexander, Lewis (Edwards 85), McKenna (Burley 89), Healy, Etuhu (Keane 6), Fuller, Cresswell.

Subs Not Used: Gould, Abbott.

Booked: Healy.

Goals: Lewis 33, Healy 75, Alexander 87 pen.

West Brom Hoult, Gaardsoe, Moore, Gregan, Haas, Johnson, Kinsella (Dyer 63), Clement (Koumas 63), Robinson, Horsfield, Hughes (Skoubo 72).

Subs Not Used: Murphy, James Chambers.

Booked: Robinson.

Att: 16,569

Ref: J Winter (Cleveland).