PRESTON boss Paul Heckingbottom accused Bobby Madley of “crazy refereeing” after seeing his striker Emil Riis thrown over an advertising board.
Managerless West Brom were well on their way to a victory that took them up into the play-off places when tempers boiled over in stoppage time.
Baggies skipper Kyle Bartley clashed with Riis – and the North End forward ended up being pushed over the hoardings.
Ref Madley spoke to both players and Bartley was shown a yellow card.
But furious Heckingbottom dashed from the bench to make his views known.
The North End boss said: “I saw one of my players get shoved over the advertising boards.
“But my frustration was more with Bobby and his performance, I went to see him. There was crazy stuff I saw here from Bobby. It was mental.
“Emil kept the ball in, got shoved over the boards, Bobby blew the whistle, spoke to the players, then gave West Brom a goal kick.
“There’s been massive home performances from officials this season. We got four yellows, they got one.
“There could’ve been two reds – one was a 100 per cent red. Frustrations boil up in you when you’re on the wrong side of them.
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“There seems to be a pattern – I’ve told them they need to be looking at it.”
Albion sealed the points before the break – with Josh Maja twice on target.
They were his first goals in nine games and brought his season’s tally to 12.
Maja opened the scoring after 18 minutes when Stefan Thordarson failed to clear Mikey Johnston’s cross.
Baggies went two up with Callum Styles’ first goal for Albion – he collected a corner and passed it into the far corner with the help of a deflection.
Maja’s second came after a run by Darnell Furlong ended with Sam Greenwood challenge.
But the ball fell to Maja who lashed a shot home.
Improved Preston pulled one back when two subs combined after 70 minutes – Milutin Osmajic setting up Ryan Ledson to score.
But Albion’s interim head coach, Chris Brunt, admitted he will not be putting his name forward for the Hawthorns job despite taking four points from his last two games.
He said: “I’m way too inexperienced, it’s not the time for me to step up to anything like that.
“But I’m proud to be out there, I’ve played so many games here and it was nice to be on the touchline and win the game.”
