‘Sensational’ – Sky Sports pundit amazed at what Portsmouth gem did in West Brom loss
Dave Edwards was amazed by a “sensational” save Portsmouth goalkeeper Will Norris pulled off in the defeat to West Brom.
Norris somehow kept out a Josh Maja effort in the first half of Sunday’s (15 September) Championship clash at Fratton Park.
The save was made at an important moment in the game, with the Baggies a goal to the good, but Pompey failed to make the most of it as they fell to a 3-0 reverse.
Speaking on Sky Sports Football’s live coverage of the game [15 September, 3:49pm], Edwards said: “Maja thought he had a second [goal].
“He doesn’t do a lot wrong but Norris pulls off a sensational save to keep his side in the game.”
Portsmouth simply not good enough against West Brom
Norris had to pick the ball out of his net three times, but that was through no real fault of his own.
The Portsmouth number one produced a true moment of magic to thwart Maja from close range, somehow scooping the ball off the line.
Thanks to goal-line technology, the referee was quickly told that the whole of the ball indeed had not crossed the whole of the line.
Rather than using that reprieve to truly get at West Brom, John Mousinho’s men instead dropped off and soon shipped a second through Alex Mowatt’s superb effort.
Mowatt added another late on – another brilliant effort, this time from a free-kick – meaning a heavy loss for Portsmouth on home soil.
Supporters can take encouragement from the fact the club have largely been in games so far this season, despite the high-calibre opposition.
That first win will soon come, and Mousinho will know full well he will need Norris to stay on top of his game if that is to happen.
In other Portsmouth news, a player is now at risk of being axed by Mousinho.
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