- Greening (39)
- Crouch (58)
- Date:2008-12-07
- Kick-off:15:00
- Venue:The Hawthorns
- Attendance:24964
- Referee:Dean, M
Live Commentary
90mins
Full Time: WEST BROM 1-1 PORTSMOUTH. Portsmouth edged their way back into the game after the break and, as the final whistle blows, a draw is probably a fair result.
90mins
A late change by Pompey as Kanu replaces Crouch.
90mins
Glen Johnson picks up a late booking for a bad tackle on Brunt.
90mins
There will be four minutes of stoppage time.
88mins
The game is really open now with both sides going all out for the winning goal.
85mins
Despite Portsmouth's improvement we have still seen very little of Jermain Defoe but he comes alive for a split-second here to beat two and bring a good save out of Carson.
82mins
Scott Carson makes a mess of a cross and has to race back onto his line and Tony Adams is sure it crossed the line - replays suggest it did.
79mins
A bit of a lull in proceedings for the first time really as that stoppage for Miller's injury has taken the pace out of the game.
76mins
Luke Moore is entering the fray for Ishmael Miller who has had to go off on a stretcher after a big collision with James.
73mins
Unbelievable miss! Glen Johnson plays a fortunate one-two with Baggies defender Olsson but then fires over from eight yards out when one-on-one with Carson.
70mins
Great chance! James Morrison slips a wonderful ball through the Pompey back four for Miller who inexplicably fires wide when he really should have scored.
68mins
Tony Mowbray is making a change as Roman Bednar replaces Borja Valero.
67mins
Almost for Defoe! A long hoof is missed by Olsson and Defoe lobs the ball over Carson but unfortunately for him it bounces wide of the goal.
64mins
Quick break from the Baggies with Miller driving at Sol Campbell but he elects to shoot when he had Valero in space to his right and James gathers easily.
62mins
The Baggies will have to show great team spirit now if they are to take all three points because having been in control they have been pegged back quickly.
60mins
Olsson is the first Baggies player to go into the referee's notebook.
58mins
WEST BROM 1-1 PORTSMOUTH. Out of the blue really! Davis lays the ball off and CROUCH fires in a 30-yard shot which hits Meite and smashes in to the net off the underside of the bar.
57mins
Jermain Defoe is appealing for a penalty after an alleged handball by Meite but the referee isn't interested and it looked to be a nothing appeal really.
54mins
Pompey look much brighter in this second period and Kranjcar is beginning to see plenty of the ball.
50mins
This second half has started as blisteringly quick as the first as Miller beats Campbell for pace before Pamarot slips but the young striker fires straight at James.
48mins
Robinson is having a torrid time right now as he misses a simple clearance to let Defoe in behind but his cross is behind Crouch and WBA escape.
48mins
Almost a fatal error from Robinson as he slips to allow Johnson into the box and Kranjcar almost gets a free pop at goal but Olsson is in early enough to block.
46mins
The second period is underway.
46mins
Substitution at the break for Pompey as Glen Little replaces Nadir Belhadj.
45mins
Half Time: WEST BROM 1-0 PORTSMOUTH. It's been a superb first-half display by the hosts with Greening running the show while Portsmouth have had real trouble finding Defoe and Crouch.
45mins
Miller takes a quick free-kick and Brunt is running in behind but he wasn't really expecting it and Johnson and Campbell are able to snuff out the danger.
44mins
It shows the strength of the Baggies performance thus far that Jermain Defoe has hardly had a kick and the England striker looks more than a little frustrated.
43mins
Papa Bouba Diop commits Portsmouth's third sliding foul in the space of a minute and collects a booking.
42mins
The hosts deserve that goal for their performance so far and they are looking to add to it as Miller drives through the middle and is chopped down by Belhadj.
39mins
WEST BROM 1-0 PORTSMOUTH. Brunt crashes a free-kick against the crossbar but GREENING is quickest to react and is able to bundle the ball over the line.
36mins
Greening is at the heart of everything the Baggies are doing well and again the former Manchester United player evades challenges to feed Koren through but James is out smartly.
33mins
However, in Nadir Belhadj they have a player who is capable of causing problems of his own and the on-loan winger skips past Zuiverloon and Morrison but this time his crossing lets him down.
30mins
Portsmouth are struggling to get themselves out of their own half at the moment and the Baggies are gathering sreal momentum.
27mins
Again Miller causes problems as he drifts off to the left-hand side and fizzes a devilish cross into the six-yard box where Greening, and the ball, are clattered off the field by Distin.
25mins
Sensational football from WBA but no goal! Greening, Morrison and Miller combine with fluid one-touch football to get Brunt through one-on-one but he can only slide his shot past the post. What an opening!
23mins
Greening is running the show for the Baggies and he beats two defenders to slip Morrison through and his spinning shot scrapes the outside of the post.
21mins
WBA have been trying to press the ball quickly but for the last few minutes they have slipped back and Pompey are starting to look comfortable.
18mins
Quick breaks from both sides as Pompey create a three on three that ends up with Meite blocking Defoe's close range shot and WBA spring out and James has to tip Miller's drive wide.
17mins
Clever running from Borja Valero who looks to cross deep where Miller and Morrison are arriving but the latter can't get his head to it.
14mins
Greening delivers a good corner into the area and Meite rises highest but the ball rather glances off his head and flashes wide of goal.
12mins
A smart interception and break from Diop who looks now to feed Defoe but Morrison blocks it with a hand - the referee though seems to have missed it and WBA bring it away.
11mins
Portsmouth are beginning to get a hold on the game at last as Belhadj drives at Zuiverloon who has to concede a corner - that Pompey waste.
8mins
The game has slowed down significantly now with West Brom trying to assert themselves in a positive manner - Miller is already proving a handful for Campbell and Johnson.
5mins
West Brom are first to really get their foot on the ball with Jonathan Greening seeing plenty of it as he looks to join Miller in attack.
2mins
A hectic start here with both teams playing at 100mph - nothing too dangerous though.
1mins
Mike Dean is in charge of this one in the West Midlands and he gets us underway now.
0mins
Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Pamarot, Davis, Diop, Belhadj, Kranjcar, Defoe, Crouch
0mins
West Brom: Carson, Zuiverloon, Meite, Olsson, Robinson, Morrison, Borja Valero, Greening, Koren, Brunt, Miller
0mins
Portsmouth have been on a small slide since Harry Redknapp's departure but having been dumped out of the UEFA Cup in midweek they will have a point to prove.
0mins
West Brom have earnt plaudits for their style of football this season but they don't seem to be able to score enough goals and that is what has been their biggest problem.
0mins
Welcome to the Hawthorns where basement club West Bromwich Albion take on Portsmouth.
Match Preview
Basement side West Bromwich Albion will be desperately hoping to boost their survival hopes when Portsmouth visit The Hawthorns this weekend.
The Baggies are already four points adrift of safety, but boss Tony Mowbray remains upbeat about his side's prospects, despite Albion having failed to register a victory in their last eight games.
He has also vowed to stick with his passing football philosophy, saying: "I'm told there's a bit of criticism about 'are we going to change the style of football'.
"But with due respect to the people asking those questions, they don't understand my team, my philosophy, my work. It isn't going to happen.
"It's never been attractive football at all costs. I just play the football we play. I've never labelled us 'an attractive football team'. I just try to say 'this is the way we play'."
Mowbray, however, accepts that his side need to be sharper at both ends of the pitch, adding: "We're in most games we play, it's just the fine detail.
"It's about sticking the ball in the net at one end and keeping our concentration at the other."
Pompey travel to the Black Country on the back of a hard-fought 3-2 home win over Blackburn Rovers, Tony Adams' first success at Fratton Park since his took over from Harry Redknapp.
Adams is starting to make his mark on the south coast, with Pompey up to eighth place in the table and seemingly on course to challenge for a return to Europe next season.
However, he is concerned that his side are finding it hard to close out games, saying after the win over Rovers: "We're going through a little phase of surrendering things. This time we knocked off from a throw-in.
"But at least we had the spirit to come back and win it and on this occasion, a bit more time. I'm delighted with them again. It's a relief to get the win."
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Match Report
Peter Crouch's spectacular strike rescued Portsmouth and extended bottom of the table West Bromwich Albion's winless run to nine games.
Pompey, knocked out of the UEFA Cup on Thursday and put up for sale by their owner Alexandre Gaydamak, were poised to end a woeful week on another low note before Crouch's 58th-minute intervention.
Albion skipper Jonathan Greening's first goal of the season in the 39th minute had looked set to end their long wait for a victory.
They had outplayed Portsmouth in the opening period but were left to rue failing to turn that pressure into more than one goal.
Portsmouth were a completely different proposition after a half-time pep talk from Tony Adams and they could have gone on to win the game only for Glen Johnson to scoop the ball over the bar from six yards out 17 minutes from time.
But a draw was good enough to extend their unbeaten run in the Premier League to five games while Albion's haul of just two points from 27 leaves them firmly rooted to the bottom of the table and in danger of being cut adrift.
Albion dominated a one-sided first half but could not make their pressure pay until Greening struck six minutes before the interval.
Robert Koren tested David James and Abdoulaye Meite headed wide before Greening sent a dipping drive just over the bar in a frenetic opening.
Albion then wasted two golden chances in the space of two minutes. James Morrison shot wide after good work by Koren in the 23rd minute before Chris Brunt missed the target when well-placed after Greening and Ishmael Miller had combined to send him clear.
But Brunt made amends for that error by playing a key role in Greening's goal as Albion were finally rewarded for their efforts.
After Portsmouth skipper Sol Campbell was somewhat harshly adjudged to have fouled Miller, Brunt whipped in a free-kick from 20 yards that beat James and rattled the bar.
Greening reacted to the rebound faster than the Portsmouth defence and stabbed the ball into an empty net with James stranded.
Albion came close to doubling their advantage four minutes after the re-start when James saved from Miller and that was the sign for Portsmouth to noticeably move up through the gears.
They were rewarded in some style when Sean Davis fed Crouch and the lanky England striker let fly from 25 yards with a dipping drive that flashed over Scott Carson for his seventh goal of the campaign.
There only looked to be one winner after that and Portsmouth could easily have taken all three points.
But Johnson was wasteful after a mazy run into the area and Albion had another lucky escape nine minutes from time when Carson spilled Johnson's cross before recovering just in time to stop the ball crossing the line.
West Bromwich Albion Team
Portsmouth Team
West Bromwich Albion | Portsmouth |
Corners
| 3 | 5 |
Fouls
| 11 | 12 |
Goal attempts
| 14 | 6 |
Shots off target
| 5 | 3 |
Offsides
| 7 | 3 |



90mins
Bednar collects the ball after a poor Campbell clearance but wastes the chance to create a chance with Brunt and Koren in space.