West Brom vs Portsmouth preview: Team news, likely lineups, score prediction
West Brom have got off to a perfect start in the Championship under Ryan Mason, with Portsmouth the next side set to arrive at The Hawthorns.
Two wins from two games have quelled some of the doubts regarding Mason as a manager following some concerning results in pre-season.
A 1-0 win at The Hawthorns against Blackburn was followed by a chaotic 3-2 victory on the road against Wrexham last weekend.
West Brom supporters will be hoping for a more routine win this time around when they host Portsmouth on Saturday, as they look to extend their winning run in the league to three games.
Form guide (including friendlies)
West Brom: WLWWL
Portsmouth: LLWWD
Team news
To nobody’s surprise, Isaac Price is expected to start against Pompey with his recent form earning him another international call-up.
Mikey Johnston is expected to take Karlan Grant’s position on the left wing, after Johnston made a massive impact off the bench against Wrexham by getting two assists.
Krystian Bielik is in line to replace George Campbell and partner Nat Phillips in the heart of the Albion defence.
For the visitors, Adrian Segecic is expected to keep his place in attacking midfield after impressing so far since arriving earlier in the summer.
Following their 2-1 defeat against Norwich, Florian Bianchini is expected to come in for Callum Lang, who injured his hamstring during the game, in what is Pompey’s only change.
Predicted lineup
West Brom: Griffiths, Furlong, Phillips, Bielik, Styles, Molumby, Mowatt, Price, Fellows, Johnston, Heggebo
Portsmouth: Schmid, Williams, Poole, Shaughnessy, Ogilvie, Swift, Dozzell, Murphy, Segecic, Bianchini, Bishop
Prediction: West Brom 2-1 Portsmouth
Pompey will be a good test for Mason’s side, with the south coast club having some exciting attackers in their lineup.
The Baggies gave up a lot of chances against Wrexham, and with Torbjorn Heggem’s recent departure, this is perhaps understandable as the new-look back four continues to gel.
For this reason, it is easy to envisage Segecic setting up Coly Bishop to give the visitors an early lead, but a brace from Aune Heggebo will be enough to send the Albion faithful home happy.
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