- Portsmouth have drawn three of their four league fixtures this season
- Each of the last two meetings between the teams have been drawn
- Recommended bet: Draw

Portsmouth have noticed a step up in class since last season’s promotion and will be striving to end their winless start to the campaign when they host high-flying West Brom on the south coast.

John Mousinho’s side opened with a hugely encouraging 3-3 draw away to Leeds, but their performances have tailed off and they were outclassed a fortnight ago when succumbing 3-1 at home to leaders Sunderland.

However, the south coast side have only lost five matches in 2024 and will be keen to show their steelier side against West Brom, who are expected to be among the promotion contenders.

The Baggies finished fifth last season and their strong start to this term continued a fortnight ago with a dominant 1-0 victory at home to Swansea.

Team news

Portsmouth quartet Jacob Farrell, Josh Murphy, Tom McIntyre and Conor Shaughnessy have all returned to training and could come into contention.

Winger Harvey Blair has made two substitute appearances since joining from Liverpool and may be ready to challenge Matt Ritchie for a place in the starting XI.

West Brom manager Carlos Corberan may be reluctant to change a winning team but Mason Holgate and Mikey Johnston could be considered after joining the club on deadline day. 

The stats

Portsmouth have drawn three of their four league matches this season.

Five of Pompey’s last seven league games have generated at least three goals.

West Brom have kept clean-sheets in three of their last five Championship fixtures.

Albion have shared the points in each of their last two matches against Portsmouth.

Prediction

Portsmouth’s string of stalemates came to an end when they lost 3-1 at home to Sunderland before the international break but they have competed reasonably well since returning to the second tier and can share the spoils with West Brom this weekend.

Bridging the gap between League One and the Championship was always going to be a test for Portsmouth, who last played second-tier football in the 2011-12 campaign.

But they have dealt reasonably well with some tough fixtures and picked up encouraging draws away to Leeds (3-3) and Middlesbrough (2-2), who are two of the teams fancied to push for promotion.

Albion are another of the division’s stronger sides and are among the pace-setters after taking 10 points from a possible 12.

However, the Baggies registered just six away wins over the entirety of last season and they might have to accept a point from a tricky trip to the south coast.

Back the draw at 12/5 with LiveScore Bet

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