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🗂️ Portsmouth v West Brom
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Kick Off: Sunday 15th September at 15:00
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Competition: Championship
West Bromwich Albion look to extend their unbeaten start to the Championship season when making the journey to Portsmouth, who themselves are still seeking a first win of any kind in 2024/25. The two clubs resume action following the international break, where only a handful of players on each team were in action. Therefore, this match could be a high-tempo affair given the desperation to get back onto the pitch and play.
On paper, this is yet another hard game for Portsmouth to try and negotiate. So far, they’ve already faced Luton Town, relegated from the Premier League last season, two expected promotion candidates in the form of Leeds and Middlesbrough, as well as Sunderland, who possess the only remaining 100% record in the division.
Heading into this round of fixtures, WBA are actually the lowest-scoring team inside the top six. Given they have also only shipped two goals in their opening four contests, it suggests something of a measured approach game-to-game. Three of those six scored came within one game when defeating Queens Park Rangers 3-1 on the opening weekend of the season.
Portsmouth v West Brom Best Bets
Portsmouth’s Championship matches this season are averaging 3.50 goals. West Brom have conceded only two league goals so far, but they are slightly over-achieving based on their xGA. Therefore, a price of 1.80 from Paddy Power on Both Teams to Score rates as a sensible bet, particularly as WBA are a little more open playing away, evidenced by their two away clashes so far seeing both teams net.
A second and final bet recommendation comes from the goalscorer market and there are strong reasons to suggest one player should extend his fine run of form. That is Baggies striker Josh Maja, who has netted four of their six league goals in 2024/25. Those have come from only eight shots, meaning he has scored exactly half of the shots he has recorded this season, which is some return. Pompey have conceded the second-most shots in the league, so they are no strangers to their goal being bombarded. Given they are facing one of the deadliest forwards in the division right now, there is no reason to suggest he won’t score a fifth-season goal on Sunday. Josh Maja to score at anytime is priced at 3.0 on Paddy.
📂 Portsmouth v West Brom Cheat Sheet
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📊 Portsmouth Form and Stats
In their defence, Portsmouth have had a real tough set of games to start the season, which is one reason for their winless return. However, the facts are the facts, and they haven’t been creating a great amount in those matches in front of goal. Their season xGF of 3.61 is one thing, but they’ve actually scored six goals, meaning they’ve been scoring a good few goals more than the quality of chances suggests they should’ve done – which over a larger sample isn’t sustainable.
Another noticeable statistic coming out of their league battles so far is the late goals they have conceded. Over their four in league action, in two of those John Mousinho’s side have let in a goal in the 90th minute or later. Both were equalising goals, meaning they could have two victories to their name as opposed to zero.
Portsmouth are top of the Championship yellow card count so far. They’ve averaged 3.75 yellow cards per league game.
If Sunday’s home side are to find the back of the net, then there are a few standout players most likely to do so. Christian Saydee and Callum Lang have two goals apiece this season, meaning collectively they’re responsible for 66.67% of Portsmouth’s league goals. Interestingly, there is another unlikely player who has been threatening, even if yet to score himself. That is left back Connor Ogilvie, who has had the joint second-highest number of shots for the team in the league. He only netted two goals last season, the last of which came in the 3rd February home win against Northampton Town.
📊 West Brom Form and Stats
West Brom head into Sunday’s match off the back of two consecutive league wins. That may not seem like a huge amount to shout about, but it is only the second time they’ve done such a thing in 2024. The previous times were the back-to-back triumphs versus Huddersfield and Bristol City in March.
One big reason that The Baggies have started as well as they have done is their impressive defensive resolve. Only top-of-the-table Sunderland have conceded fewer goals in the Championship, whilst their xGA of 3.31 can only be bettered by three other clubs; Sunderland included. Last season, WBA had a top-seven xGA in the league, so this is no fluke.
Carlos Corberán’s side are ranked eighth for xGF heading into this weekend. In 2023/24 they were positioned ninth in the league for xGF and still made the play-offs.
Something Albion will be particularly proud of is they still maintain a 100% winning record in away league contests this season. They have beaten QPR and Stoke on the road despite conceding a first half goal in them both. The last time they won two away league matches in succession was in the 2022/23 campaign, so this can only be an encouraging early season sign of times to come. However, they’ve not won three away battles in a row since February 2020, so history is against them this weekend.
⚔️ Portsmouth v West Brom Head-to-Head
Sunday’s clash at Fratton Park will be the first head-to-head meeting played since April 2009, which was when Portsmouth and West Brom were Premier League clubs. On that occasion, as was also the case in the other match earlier in the 2008/09 campaign, a draw was the final result.
Pompey are actually undefeated in each of the previous four renewals of this match-up. In fact, the last time WBA departed Portsmouth with all three points came after a 2-1 success in September 2001.
Over the six encounters played since the beginning of 2005, three have featured both teams scoring and the other contained under 2.5 goals; including two Portsmouth home victories to nil.
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* We recommend waiting for confirmed team line-ups before placing any bets.
* All odds displayed correct at the time of publishing.
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