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Match Report
Portsmouth v West Brom 17 December 2005
Pompey hold on for vital win
Portsmouth 1 - 0 West Brom
Harry Redknapp made a winning return to Fratton Park as Portsmouth edged a tight game against West Brom 1-0.
Svetoslav Todorov scored the only goal of the game to end a five-match losing streak for the club, and give them their first home win of the season.
In Redknapp's first game back in front of the Pompey faithful, it was no surprise that his side came out with a real sense of urgency, working hard to close down their opponents and playing in a positive manner.
West Brom were unbeaten in their last four Premiership games however, and were not prepared to let the home team have it all their own way.
Junichi Inamoto had the first decent effort of the game, lashing a shot from outside the box over the crossbar, and The Baggies played with some fluency on the counter-attack.
Neither goalkeeper was tested until just before the half hour mark, Nathan Ellington's shot from distance forcing Jamie Ashdown to make a comfortable save.
Portsmouth lacked cutting edge when they pressed forward, and only looked dangerous from set pieces. Laurent Robert hit a fierce free kick just past the upright with his left foot to finally give the crowd something to get excited about.
In the last few minutes of the first half Pompey piled on the pressure, but West Brom defended in numbers and restricted their opportunities.
It was a different story at the start of the second half, as the South Coast side were put firmly on the back foot, the lively Inamoto pulling the strings for the visitors.
In a fluctuating game, Portsmouth hit back strongly, and almost took the lead when Todorov followed up Tomasz Kuszczak's fine save off Tresor Lomana Lua Lua, only for the goalkeeper to regain his feet and smother Todorov's close-range effort.
They were not to be denied for long though, and the two strikers combined again after 56 minutes to hand Pompey the lead. Lua Lua sped down the right wing and managed to hold off two challenges to poke the ball through to Todorov, who got in front of his marker and coolly lifted the ball over the diving Kuszczak from eight yards out.
The Baggies surged forward in an attempt to level the scores, but it was Portsmouth who looked more like extending their lead, Lua Lua's pace and willingness to run with the ball terrifying West Brom's back-line.
They continued to look threatening on the break, but as the game neared its conclusion they sat further and further back, inviting their opponents onto them.
Bryan Robson's men enjoyed a lot of the ball in the closing stages and pinned Portsmouth in their own half with a series of corners, Robert Earnshaw also being introduced to give another option up front.
Despite their pressure they were unable to create even one good chance, and Portsmouth held on for a vital three points.
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