Hawley the hustler: Nine-man Preston see off Baggies

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Hawley's strike came just when Albion were threatening to seize control, Zoltan Gera having cancelled out an early goal from Youl Mawene in stunning style.

But Preston had a late scare, finishing with nine men. Mawene was sent off with eight minutes left following a second yellow card and striker Chris Brown followed in the 90th, also for two cautions.

Albion old boy Darren Carter, who left the Hawthorns last summer for Deepdale, had delivered a swinging sixthminute corner from the right and French defender Mawene used his strength to power home a header.

It was just what manager Alan Irvine ordered from the home side to cash in on the confidence gained from Saturday's 4-1 FA Cup rout of Derby, the Premier League's bottom side, at Pride Park.

They were rewarded in Monday's draw with a home fifth-round tie against Portsmouth, whose assistant manager Joe Jordan was among the observers at this game.

Albion, also winners in the FA Cup away to Peterborough, played a lot of neat football but had problems raising a serious threat to Andy Lonergan's goal.

After 35 minutes, Simon Whaley was inches away from a second for Preston, hitting an angled left-foot shot against the near post.

Lonergan was eventually forced to make a fine save from a Filipe Teixeira drive after 40 minutes and three minutes later the goalkeeper made another from a close-range effort from Roman Bednar.

Five minutes into the second half, Gera fired a superb equaliser. There appeared little cause for concern when the talented Hungarian picked the ball up, but he made space and hit an unstoppable shot with his right foot from 25 yards.

Gera and his team-mates really had the taste now. Teixeira threatened after 53 minutes but the ball rolled just wide.

Lonergan was again the Preston saviour after 62 minutes, blocking a James Morrison effort after a strong run.

Hawley then produced what proved to be the decisive blow, although Lonergan tipped a Gera effort on to the bar and the late dismissals cut it fine for Preston.