David Prutton predicts result of Portsmouth vs West Brom in ‘yardstick’ verdict
Sky Sports pundit David Prutton predicted West Brom will beat Portsmouth 2-1 in their Championship clash on Sunday (15 September).
Talking on the Essential EFL podcast, Prutton thinks the Baggies will face a tough encounter against a Portsmouth side who have yet to win in the Championship his season.
But ultimately, he expects Albion to continue an unbeaten start to their league campaign, predicting a 2-1 triumph for Corberan’s men at Fratton Park.
Prutton said: “They’ve been great, they seemingly off the back of play-off heartbreak have hit the ground running. (They face) a Portsmouth side who haven’t been at this level for quite some time, still looking for that first win, plenty to like in what they’ve done all the way back to that Leeds game at the start of the season and they were very much in that game showing their quality that they’ve got.
“So there’s nothing (to fear) really from John Mousinho’s point of view – yes, they came up against a very good Sunderland side last time out who are flying themselves so maybe there’s a bit of a yardstick for what the Championship is, but they’ve acquitted themselves well.
“This isn’t me being condescending, what I’ve seen from Pompey so far that first win isn’t too far away, I just don’t know whether it comes against West Brom at the weekend.
“I think it’s a West Brom win, 2-1.”
Can West Brom continue bright Championship start?
Albion have started the season brightly, scoring six goals and conceding just two in their opening four league games, putting them in an automatic promotion position in the still infant Championship table.
Last season saw West Brom defeated in the play-off semi-finals, losing to eventually promoted Southampton, but the signs are promising that the Baggies can push for promotion again under Corberan.
Positive starts from young winger Tom Fellows and striker Josh Maja have played their part in helping West Brom begin the campaign on a high note and you sense both will be important to maintain the feel-good factor.
That said, there are still 42 matches remaining, and 18 of those games come between now and Christmas, meaning the Spanish coach will need to rotate his team.
The likes of new signing Callum Styles will be extremely useful due to his versatility, while the Baggies possess strength in depth with the likes of experienced Championship campaigner Jed Wallace.
There is every reason to believe West Brom can once again compete for promotion to the top flight.
In other West Brom news, midfielder Jayson Molumby was subject to a harsh decision in Ireland’s defeat to Greece.
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