This article is part of Football FanCast's In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets... 

West Bromwich Albion returned to the top of the Championship table on Monday evening as fortune was hugely on their side.

The Baggies needed a last-minute penalty from substitute Charlie Austin to clinch all three points against the league's best home side Preston North End at Deepdale.

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Kyle Edwards weaved into the box and went down under a challenge from goalkeeper Declan Rudd, to which the referee pointed to the spot.

The majority of the Albion squad failed to perform to the standard they have set all season.

Grady Diangana was largely anonymous, managing just one successful dribble from four while Matheus Pereira struggled for the first time in the green and yellow stripes, recording a poor 68% passing accuracy and losing possession 27 times. When these two aren't on their game you know something isn't going to plan.

However, one man stood out amongst all - Semi Ajayi.

The 26-year-old has been an ever-present feature amongst Slaven Bilic's starting XI playing every single minute on offer, even in the absence of midfield duo Romaine Sawyers and Jake Livermore, he stepped up to the plate further up the pitch.

Ajayi in recent matches has swapped around with Kyle Bartley in defence, meaning he is now playing on the left-hand side despite being predominantly right-footed.

But it has paid off substantially as seen against Preston when the Baggies managed to keep a clean sheet against a team that hadn't lost at home all season.

Per SofaScore, Albion's colossus won a grand total of 14 aerial duels, recorded five clearances and managed two tackles. All while continuing to play to Bilic's style of football on his wrong foot as seen with his 85% passing accuracy.

Ajayi was undoubtedly one of the key reasons why Preston couldn't punish their subpar performance.

It also only further goes to show just how much of a bargain that £1.5m was in the summer.

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Meanwhile, following the match, much of the Baggies fanbase wanted to see one thing and one thing only....