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Match Report
West Brom v Portsmouth 20 August 2005
Baggies beat Pompey again
West Brom 2 - 1 Portsmouth
Geoff Horsfield's double ensured West Bromwich Albion started the new season at The Hawthorns the same way they finished the last - by beating Portsmouth.
A 2-0 success on the final day of last term kept The Baggies in The Premiership and they had to survive a late rally to earn a 2-1 victory over Pompey on this occasion.
Bustling striker Horsfield scored in each half, although his second may be disputed by team-mate Kevin Campbell, while Laurent Robert scored a trademark free kick for the visitors.
West Brom enjoyed the perfect start when they were ahead inside two minutes with Horsfield heading home at the far post from Jonathan Greening's cross.
Portsmouth struggled to find their stride and goalkeeper Sander Westerveld appeared tentative in claiming Horsfield's mis-hit volley under pressure from Kevin Campbell.
Tresor Lomana Lua Lua was easily Pompey's most dangerous player and he looked hopefully at referee Mike Riley for a penalty after falling in the box under minimal contact from Thomas Gaardsoe.
Horsfield should have doubled the lead on 19 minutes after more slack defending from Pompey allowed Zoltan Gera to forge into space, but his near post cross was turned over the bar by the early goalscorer.
Lua Lua flashed a volley across the face of goal, while at the opposite end, Andy Johnson was off target with a curling attempt from the edge of the box.
A long ball pumped forward by Johnson created another half-chance for the hosts as Campbell chested the ball into the path of Paul Robinson, whose sweetly struck volley flew just wide.
With Azar Karadas anonymous in attack, it was left to Lua Lua to carry the fight and the pacey African burst into the box before clipping a shot agonisingly wide across goal.
Robert was merely sizing up the angles when firing a free kick over early in the second half, while Lua Lua launched a rapid counter-attack for the visitors before tamely curling his shot wide.
The Baggies extended their lead just before the hour mark, with Pompey keeper Westerveld having to take the blame. Horsfield cut inside the area and hit a shot which Westerveld somehow failed to stop as the ball trickled towards the line.
Andy Griffin's rushed clearance ricocheted off Campbell, who took advantage of further poor play by Westerveld by ramming the ball home. Horsfield was initially credited with the strike but the dubious goals panel may find in Campbell's favour at a later date.
Pompey grasped a lifeline on 63 minutes when West Brom conceded a needless free kick 25 yards from goal and Robert stepped up to arc the ball into the net and beyond Chris Kirkland.
Robert created a great opportunity for an equaliser in the last minute as he rolled the ball across the six-yard box but substitute Giannis Skopelitis put his shot into the stands.
West Brom substitute Robert Earnshaw could have put a gloss on the scoreline in injury time but his shot was beaten away by Westerveld as Pompey start the campaign with two straight defeats.
| West Brom | Team Name | Portsmouth | | 2 | Goals | 1 | | 2 | Shots on target ( Inc Goals ) | 2 | | 4 | Shots off Target (inc woodwork) | 8 | | 0 | Blocked Shots | 0 | | 3 | Corners Won | 3 | | 21 | Total Fouls Conceded | 19 | | 4 | Offsides | 2 | | 4 | Yellow Cards | 3 | | 0 | Red Cards | 0 | | 48% | Possession | 52% |
Report From 
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