Former Southampton man predicts Portsmouth result against West Brom at Fratton Park
Portsmouth will suffer back-to-back defeats when they take on West Bromw at Fratton Park this Sunday, according to David Prutton.
The former Southampton man and now Sky Sports host has admitted he cannot see Pompey earning a result on home turf against an in-form Baggies outfit.
Speaking on the Essential EFL podcast [12 September, 14:57], Prutton explained how the club are still acclimatising to the Championship and that Albion have been “great”.
As such he expects the Baggies to triumph 2-1, saying: “They’ve been great, seemingly off the back of play-off heartbreak they’ve hit the ground running. And 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, showing the 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, they’ve acquitted themselves well.
“This isn’t me being condescending, from 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.”
Portsmouth face another stern Championship test
Everyone knows the Championship can be an unforgiving league, but the fixture computer has been ruthless with Portsmouth in their return to the division after a 13-season hiatus.
A trio of creditable successive draws against Leeds United, Luton Town and Middlesbrough preceded their first taste of defeat to a rampant Sunderland side – the only team at this early stage to have outperformed West Brom.
Carlos Corberan is one of the most renowned young managers in England and after some danger among the Baggies fans he would leave The Hawthorns, has instead regrouped a wounded squad to fly from the traps.
Mousinho may shuffle his pack and is desperate for his defensive options to be restored – he will be doing everything to ensure there is no haunting return for Jed Wallace to Fratton – although it is the likes of Josh Maja, Mikey Johnston and Tom Fellows who carry the primary threat.
The contest in PO4 represents another litmus test for Pompey to see where they’re at – most of a large squad trained throughout the international break and will be raring to go.
In other Portsmouth news, Mousinho shares the disagreements he has with Rich Hughes surrounding players.
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