Portsmouth v West Brom - Preview


Pressure - Mowbray

By Jemma Taappenden
April 11 2009

West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Mowbray admits that his side are under 'great pressure' to notch up a win against Portsmouth this afternoon if Albion are to stand any chance of surviving the drop. The Baggies are all but mathematically down, but the gaffer insists that whilst there is still a chance his side must give their all to ensure Premiership survival.

To even the most hardcore believer it must now seem like a tall order.  Albion are 8 points adrift of 17th placed and currently safe Sunderland.  Which means to even claw survival now the Baggies must win a third of their current points total again with just a handful of games left - and that's before you throw into the equation all the other sides around them losing. 

With Albion having won just three games in their last 24 outings it does seem unlikely.  Even worse is that Albion haven't won a top flight fixture at Portsmouth since 17th September 1958.

Still, Mowbray has at least laid to rest the 'target game' theory for now.  He told the BBC this week that "I am not going to say this is a 'must win' game. We try to win every game and this one is no different."

In team news Abdoulaye Meite could be recalled for Albion, he hasn't featured for two weeks, but looks set to replace Shelton Martis at the back.

For Pompey Jermaine Pennant looks likely to start after recovering from injury.  But Glenn Johnson misses out as he serves a one match ban.

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Discussion started by Baggies World (IP Logged), 11/04/2009 13:07
Baggies World
Baggies World
11/04/2009 13:07
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