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Sports Mole previews Sunday's Championship clash between Portsmouth and West Bromwich Albion, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.

West Bromwich Albion make the trip to Fratton Park to face Portsmouth on Sunday looking to extend their unbeaten streak in the Championship to five matches.

At a time when the Baggies begin the weekend in second position in the standings, Pompey are down in 18th spot having failed to get a win on the board.

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Match preview

On the back of their League One title-winning campaign, there are high expectations at Portsmouth as they bid to cement themselves back in the second tier.

John Mousinho's side may still be awaiting their first victory of the season, but collecting three points and suffering just one defeat can be regarded as progress.

The draws in question came against Leeds United, Luton Town and Middlesbrough, matches in which they were underdogs, and they were minutes away from prevailing in two of those fixtures.

Losing 3-1 to Sunderland before the international break was not ideal, but the Black Cats are the Championship leaders and the only goal that they have conceded in the league was in that game.

On the flip side, it was an own goal that was nothing more than a consolation, meaning that a Portsmouth player is still yet to get on the scoresheet at Fratton park in three matches in all competitions this season.

Sitting directly below Sunderland in the table are West Bromwich Albion, who have accumulated 10 points from their opening four games since missing out in last season's playoffs.

Back-to-back clean sheets have been kept at The Hawthorns, with the Baggies holding Leeds United to a goalless draw and edging out Swansea City by a 1-0 scoreline.

Their away form is perhaps more notable, with 2-1 and 3-1 triumphs being recorded at the home grounds of Queens Park Rangers and Stoke City.

Carlos Corberan will be encouraged by how his team are performing at both ends of the pitch ahead of a September schedule that features game against newly-promoted sides of teams struggling at the lower end of the table.

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Team News

Mousinho will inevitably make changes to his Portsmouth XI, likely recalling Paddy Lane to a midfield or creative role.

Harvey Blair is also pushing for his first league start since joining from Liverpool, with Matt Ritchie potentially dropping out of the side.

Having returned to training after injury, the likes of Jacob Farrell, Josh Murphy, Tom McIntyre and Conor Shaughnessy are all pushing for opportunities.

Barring any fitness issues, there is little reason for Corberan to tinker with his West Brom XI.

Mason Holgate and Mikey Johnston come into contention for places in the squad having joined on deadline day from Everton and Celtic respectively.

Portsmouth possible starting lineup:
Norris; Swanson, Williams, Towler, Ogilvie; Pack, Dozzell; Lane, Lang, Silvera; Saydee

West Bromwich Albion possible starting lineup:
Palmer; Furlong, Ajayi, Bartley, Heggem; Molumby, Mowatt; Fellows, Swift, Grant; Maja

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We say: Portsmouth 1-2 West Bromwich Albion

With Portsmouth's only defeat coming against leaders Sunderland, there will be no complacency on West Brom's behalf. That could lead to the visitors grinding out a hard-fought victory, potentially through a late goal.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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