Mowbray said: "I am delighted for Nathan as he stays on the training ground to work on his finishing. I know the first goal had a helping hand from the goalkeeper but he has got his rewards for the work that he has been putting in. He has got a big part to play here. He will get better and he is the kind of player who believes that he will score every time that he plays."
Mowbray has dismissed persistent speculation that Ellington could be returning to Wigan next month and he added: "The more strikers you have the better chance you have to win games. We really got going again in the last 20 minutes and steamrollered Preston. It is a powerful tool to have. We are in the top six now but that does not concern me. All that worries me is winning games and where we will finish the season."
Albion took just six minutes to break the deadlock when Koumas collected a pass and cut inside Alexander before curling his shot beyond goalkeeper Carlo Nash. They doubled their advantage after 25 minutes with Kamara converting a cross from Curtis Davies following a break from Darren Carter. Albion were cruising at this stage but left-back Paul Robinson presented Preston with a route back into the game when he handled Matt Hill's cross and Alexander converted from the spot. That goal revived Preston and even the dismissal of former Albion striker Danny Dichio in the 41st minute for elbowing Paul McShane could not derail their comeback. Nugent deservedly fired them back on to level terms in the 66th minute when he converted Chris Sedgwick's cross. But all their hard work was undone by goalkeeper Nash who spilled Ellington's free-kick into the back of the net in the 75th minute. Ellington set the seal on the win three minutes from time when he rose high to head home a cross from Robinson. Preston boss Paul Simpson was upset that his side's comeback failed to secure any reward.
He said: "They were disappointing goals to concede. I know that Carlo Nash will take some stick for his mistake but these things happen and he has been a different class for us this season. It was a freaky goal and we have to accept it. We had done really well to get back to 2-2 and we deserved something from the game at that stage."
Preston made light of the loss of Dichio and Simpson may appeal against the red card. He added: "I am not trying to sit on the fence but I did not see whether he made any contact. Danny said he did not make any contact and he would like to try to appeal if we could. a the time Tony said the officials were ruining the game and it says it all when both managers are flabbergasted by some of the decisions."
Preston remain second and Simpson said: "It is no shame losing to Albion as I believe they will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season