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Loan watch: Gayle strikes as Baggies reach summit
Written by Rory Mitchinson
Dwight Gayle struck for the sixth time as a West Bromwich Albion player as the Baggies moved to the top of the Championship with a 3-2 victory over Preston North End on Saturday.
The forward curled a free kick past the Lilywhites’ Chris Maxwell to put Darren Moore’s side 3-1 up at Deepdale, all but putting the outcome beyond doubt with 88 minutes on the clock.
Ahead of their midweek trip to Sheffield Wednesday, the Baggies are a point clear of Leeds United, Middlesbrough and Sheffield United at the summit of the division.
Nottingham Forest are four points further back, with Jack Colback playing 90 minutes as Aitor Karanka’s side drew 2-2 against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park.
Elsewhere, midfielder Dan Barlaser came off the bench to help Accrington Stanley to a 1-0 win at Walsall in League One, a fourth of the campaign for John Coleman’s troops. Luke Charman wasn’t involved for Stanley, who are now on the cusp of a play-off place.
Josef Yarney also missed out on any playing action on Saturday, remaining on the substitutes’ bench as Morecambe won 2-1 at Grimsby Town in League Two.
Further afield, Rolando Aarons enjoyed a taste of victory for the first time as a Slovan Liberec player, helping the Modrobílí to a 3-0 win over Sigma Olomouc. He was withdrawn midway through the second half.
In Turkey, Henri Saivet only played the first 20 minutes of Bursaspor’s 2-0 defeat to Sivasspor, with the midfielder suffering an injury against his former club. Former Manchester City forward Robinho struck twice to condemn Yeşil Timsahlar to a fifth defeat of the season.