Pompey boss makes 'tough' West Brom prediction as he delivers Carlos Corberan verdict

Portsmouth manager John Mousinho is expecting a 'really tough test' from West Brom when the two sides meet on Sunday.

The Baggies travel down to Fratton Park for the first meeting between the two sides in 15 years. Pompey won the League One title last season, ending a 12-year exile from the Championship, but haven't crossed paths since the two spent their days in the Premier League in 2009.

Portsmouth are without a win this season, but have drawn against Leeds United, Luton Town, and Middlesbrough, who have all been tipped to be there or thereabouts in the promotion race come the end of the season. Mousinho, who is in his first job in football management praised his opposite number Carlos Corberan in his pre-match chat, and believes that there is a progression from last season.

"I think it's one of those games where we come up with a game plan,” said Mousinho in his pre-match press conference with The News.

“We've got a game plan, and I think West Brom are still capable of hurting you and like most sides in the league are capable of doing that, because they've got good players everywhere.

"We'll try and come up with solutions to the issues they are going to pose us but they're definitely a good side.

"They have got some really good players, a decent system, are very well coached, and they've also got themselves together now for a good period of time, and they've built on the progress they had last year. We're expecting a really tough test on Sunday.”

West Brom will be looking for their first win against Portsmouth since August 2005. It's been 15-years since the two sides met, but WBA are winless in their last four against the Hampshire outfit.

The last victory down on the South Coast came back in September 2001, when the two sides were in the Championship. West Brom have a perfect record on their travels this season however having defeated QPR and Stoke City, and will want to preserve that record as they look to continue their positive start to the campaign.