Mikey Johnston earns high praise from Ryan Mason as West Brom beat Preston

Ryan Mason saluted Mikey Johnston after his sensational goal helped West Brom claim a 2-1 Sky Bet Championship victory over Preston.

Former Celtic winger Johnston scored a 25-yard screamer five minutes before half-time and then Isaac Price settled The Hawthorns crowd even though Michael Smith scored a late consolation.

Johnston was the subject of transfer interest in the summer but head coach Mason is delighted he stayed.

“Mikey played a really good game,” said Mason. “He was taking players out of the game and making things happen.

“His goal was outstanding – it is clear to say that. He’s going to probably get five of them a season.

“He needs to score more ugly goals.

“He’s an important player, he’s a player with value, clubs were interested in him, Mikey was someone we wanted to keep.

“He’s well respected and liked. It was a moment of brilliance.

“Mikey knows I love him, I need to push him and get more out of him. He’s a winger and wingers strive for consistency. I want him to score more tap-ins.”

Price scored from just inside the area in the 62nd minute from Alex Mowatt’s break and Mason was pleased with only a second win since August, a result that takes Albion back into the top six.

“We’re happy because we won, it was a difficult game and they are a good side,” he said. “It’s important we make this place count.

“We won this thanks to two moments of brilliance.

“To wait two weeks since Millwall was a long time but I could feel the determination and desire within the group before the game to get this result.

“I thought it was a good game. They were super aggressive. We didn’t have much control. I could feel it very early on. They put a lot of energy into the early stages.

“Mikey scored his goal but we had some really good passages. It was always going to be we needed to score a second goal.”

Preston’s consolation came as Smith tapped home from Daniel Jebbison’s 78th-minute cross.

But manager Paul Heckingbottom was unhappy when his side were not awarded a penalty at 0-0 as referee Andrew Kitchen failed to point to the spot despite Toby Collyer appearing to foul Harrison Armstrong in the area.

“The ref messaged the fourth official to say he played the ball,” he said.

“(PGMOL manager) Kevin Friend’s already been onto our secretary to say he’s not played the ball.

“I can’t see how he got that wrong. He’s late. He’s not seen him play the ball.

“If you’re not giving them don’t make a reason up as to why you’ve not given it. They’re my problems when they lie to get out of bad decisions.

“We all make bad decisions but you can’t invent things.

“We went toe to toe and more than held our own. I said to our players, ‘don’t get used to this feeling’ but I can look beyond that.

“We got Mikey Johnston wrong and gave him too much space in the first half.”