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RA dreadful 19-minute spell
in the first half cost Pompey as they fell to a heavy Championship defeat
om the road at West Brom. They had been arguably the better side before Alex Mowatt broke the deadlock, only for Grady Diangana’s brace and a Jed Wallace finish to effectively settle the contest before the break. It was a much more solid showing from the Blues following the restart, although a deflected John Swift strike did ensure the hosts scored a fifth. A large travelling army of fans were at least able to celebrate a debut goal from susbtitute Thomas Waddingham right at the end. John Mousinho made five changes from the side that comfortably beat Stoke on home soil earlier in the week. Christian Saydee, Zak Swanson, Terry Devlin, Andre Dozzell and Ryley Towler were all restored to the starting line-up. Callum Lang, Josh Murphy, Jordan Williams, Freddie Potts and Rob Atkinson dropped to the bench, where they were joined by new signing Waddingham. Former Fratton favourite Wallace was named skipper for the home side, playing in an unfamiliar role up front. It was he visitors who made the brighter start and a long-range Dozzell effort was comfortably dealt with by Alex Palmer. Saydee then showed some neat skills to win a corner and when that was cleared as far as Swanson, he could only fire over. Pompey were looking more than comfortable and a couple of dangerous Matt Ritchie deliveries were nervously dealt with. But West Brom took the lead on 25 minutes and, as has happened a few times on the road this season, a capitulation soon followed. Nicolas Schmid could only fumble a Mowatt drive into the net after the ball had been laid into his path by Diangana. A fine sliding block from Towler then prevented Diangana from racing onto Callum Styles’ pass and doubling the deficit. But the Baggies did score again moments later, with Mikey Johnston getting past Swanson and Devlin before sending in a shot. That was parried away by Schmid, but Dianagana was quickly upon the loose ball to find the net from close range. Marlon Pack rose to meet a Ritchie corner and narrowly clear the crossbar, as the Blues tried to fight back. The respite was brief, though, and Diangana broke clear and fed Wallace, who kept his composure to increase the pain for his former club on 37 minutes. There was still time for West Brom to add a fourth goal just before break after Pompey’s offside appeals fell on deaf ears. That allowed Diangana to race onto a long Mason Holgate pass up the pitch and calmly bend home his second of the afternoon. Half Time: West Brom 4 Pompey 0 There was another scare early in the second half after the dangerous Johnston broke into the box and hit a shot. That was well saved down to Schmid’s left, but Towler’s clearance struck Connor Ogilvie before eventually being scrambled to safety. A purposeful break from the home side then ended with a low drive from Tom Fellows that was gathered by Schmid. But the keeper could do nothing to stop the Baggies adding a fifth goal on 56 minutes, as a fierce Swift strike took a deflection on its way to finding the roof of the net. Mousinho immediately responded with a couple of changes, replacing Isaac Hayden and Colby Bishop with Potts and debutant Waddingham. A further three followed on 69 minutes, as Swanson, Ogilvie and Ritchie made way for Lang, Williams and Murphy. The latter player immediately had a chance to pull one back for the Blues, but his attempt was well blocked. West Brom soon had a chance of their own, though, and Schmid was off his line to deny Fellows before Marlon Pack hacked the loose ball to safety. Both sides tried to push forward as the seconds ticked down and Pompey did grab a consolation with the final attack of the game. Lang drilled in a cross that was helped on by Dozzell and although the initial effort from WADDINGHAM was saved, he tucked away the loose ball. |
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