Matchday 3 and it’s already a sense of energy already, having won the first games so far and a dramatic 3-2 win over Wrexham last weekend, it’s now Portsmouth to make it a hat-trick of straight wins in the Championship.
John Mousinho slipped to defeat to Norwich last time out, and they arrive to look to steady the ship, for the Baggies the challenge is to back up the win in Wrexham with another strong display, and give the home crowd an early taste of what Ryan Mason’s Baggies can deliver.
The stage is set at The Hawthorns for what should be a fascinating early-season clash between two sides eager to make their mark.
Player To Watch – Portsmouth
All eyes will be on John Swift this weekend, as the former Albion player lines up for Portsmouth, having swapped The Hawthorns for Fratton Park this summer, Swift’s return to the Black Country is sure to be a talking point for the Baggies faithful.
He is a player with Championship experience, capable of threading passes through tight defences or producing a moment of magic from distance/ He is back at this boyhood club and is hungry to step up his mark and wouldn’t surprise me if his a real threat for this fixture.
There is danger when an ex-player comes back to face us as most who do normally score past us, if Albion are not careful, he could be the one to score past his former teammates and haunt us at The Hawthorns.
Player To Watch – West Brom
Isaac Price was the star of the show in Albion’s 3-2 win away at Wrexham last weekend, bagging a superb brace that underlined exactly why Ryan Mason has put so much faith in him. The young midfielder showed both composure and confidence in front of goal, timing his runs perfectly and finishing with real quality to drag Albion over the line.
Beyond the goals, Price has impressed with his energy and calmness in possession, knitting together Albion’s midfield and giving them drive going forward. At just 21, he’s quickly becoming a player fans are excited to watch — and on current form he’s staking a real claim as one of the best players in the Championship. Portsmouth will be well aware of the threat he carries when he drifts into dangerous areas, especially after the way he tore Wrexham apart last weekend.
My Line Up V Portsmouth
For the starting 11, I have kept the same back four with Griffiths in goal, in midfield I have replaced Alex Mowatt for Toby Collyer who make his first start since joining on loan from Man United. In attacking midfield I have replaced Karlan Grant with Mikey Johnston and Aune Heggebo would start up front alongside in form Isaac Price in behind.
Prediction V Portsmouth
Last time out, I actually predicted the scoreline correctly in my Wrexham preview by going for a 3-2 win and we did exactly that. Could I do it again, probably not as it was the first time I predicted right in a long time.
Lets see how it can go this weekend, I think it be a quiet start to the game as both teams would try and attack as the first attack would happen in the 25th minute as Mikey Johnston would see his effort saved and before half time Portsmouth Colby Bishop would try and beat Griffiths but would hit the post with the scores remain 0-0 at the break.
Second half it be the same with more pressure going onto Portsmouth with them making another opportunity with Josh Murphy trying to beat our defence that would go off target, it would remain level in the 70th minute but a few opportunities would still leave it goalless towards added time and around the 92nd minute the deadlock would be broken by Karlan Grant’s effort being saved by the Portsmouth keeper would allow Josh Maja to bury the ball home to give the Baggies a late win at The Hawthorns.
Prediction: West Brom 1-0 Portsmouth
Goalscorer for West Brom: Josh Maja
I’m going for late drama with Josh Maja getting a late winner over Portsmouth, I think they would frustrate us and would go into the last minutes of the game and eventually get a winner. I think it be a nervy game and lets see what happens as I would take a 1-0 win here.