West Brom 5 Portsmouth 1: Rampant Baggies clinical on Mowbray's Hawthorns return

The hapless visitors were swotted aside by a convincing Albion who, in just Mowbray's second game, showed why owners Bilkul turned to the 61-year-old for his attacking, free-scoring brand.

A rotated Portsmouth side, regularly beaten away from home this season, were comically bad at times as goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid endured a nightmare but Albion flooded forward time and again and were relentless in their pursuit of chances and goals.

The Baggies hope a run of just four wins in 24 before this clash is a thing of the past as Albion's attackers clicked with Grady Diangana and Mikey Johnston in inspired form.

Jed Wallace and John Swift, often maligned this season, scored their first goals of the campaign as the former surprisingly led the line.

The story of the end of Albion's January transfer window is which striker they bring in to cover for Josh Maja. That need remains as strong as ever given Pompey's desperately sub-par level but a new striker was far from Baggies fans' thoughts amid five goals scored between minutes 25 and 55.

It was certainly an example of the love and confidence Mowbray has given to Diangana, Wallace and Swift since his appointment.

The rout lifted the Baggies two places to fifth, on goal difference above Middlesbrough, in the Championship. It was the biggest win since the same scoreline against Swansea in December 2019.

Visitors Pompey had rung the changes from their home midweek win over Stoke, with several big-hitters rested in favour of home fixtures.

Despite that, John Mousinho's visitors started brightly at a muted Hawthorns. Makeshift right winger Zak Swanson fired a half-volley well over.

It took the hosts a quarter of an hour to rally as Diangana flashed a decent 20-yard drive narrowly wide. Big Pompey defender Ryley Towler headed wide from a corner at the back post.

Mowbray's men showed signs of improvement but few saw signs of a goal glut on the horizon.

The returning head coach's request after Tuesday's opening defeat at Middlesbrough was to buy a ticket from range with more shots.

It was an afternoon keeper Schmid will not want to re-live. There seemed to be little sign of danger as Mowatt lined up a half-volley from outside the box and the midfielder hit it well but the Austrian got down well to his left post - though his hands were so weak and the ball somehow squirmed into the corner.

It took the crowd seconds to see what had happened - but the floodgates opened.  

Johnston inspired the second. He nutmegged Swanson on the left flank and darted forward. The winger was allowed to cut into the box but his strike looked relatively comfortable for Schmid.

The hapless keeper spilled the effort and Diangana was om the spot six yards out to slide into the corner.

Away skipper Marlon Pack, a midfielder playing in defence, headed over at 2-0 but it was one-way traffic in a relentless run until half-time.

Wallace made it three with his first of the season five minutes later. The skipper started it by finding Diangana on halfway, the latter rode a challenge and returned the favour to send Wallace through a disintegrated Pompey backline.

Former Pompey man Wallace kept his cool with a cool drilled finish and celebrated with real gusto.

The fourth on the stroke of half-time was as classy as it was comical. The purring crowd cheered "ole" as the Baggies strung dozens of passes together from left to right and front to back.

It was back with Palmer and then out to Mason Holgate. The defender clipped a clever but simple high ball over a haphazard Pompey backline and in strode Diangana to lift in for four.

The Baggies were afforded the luxury of withdrawing Mowatt at half-time as Ousmane Diakite entered.

It was almost six immediately after the restart as the electric Johnston was denied and Pompey came dangerously close to a comical own-goal.

Mowbray's influence was on display as his side flooded forward five-on-four to score another at 4-0 up. On this occasion Johnston fed Tom Fellows, who was denied.

Swift was not denied minutes later as his sweet first-time strike from Johnston's pass to a nick and rocketed into the roof of the net.

That signalled for a triple introduction of Devante Cole, Karlan Grant and midweek signing Isaac Price, for his debut.

A flood of changes for both disrupted the one-way traffic, while a few rattled blue shirts were fortunate to escape with yellow cards.

Pompey feigned a late go with Albion comfortable.  A rare blot on the day was Diangana hobbling off with 20 minutes left. His replacement Uros Racic lifted over a chance for six and Fellows was denied by Schmid.

Six was not to arrive, as instead Pompey sub Thomas Waddingham netted a consolation with the last kick on his debut, but Mowbray's Albion showed glimpses of an attacking ethos to come.

Teams

Albion (4-4-2): Palmer; Furlong, Holgate, Heggem, Styles; Fellows, Mowatt (Diakite, 45), Swift (Price, 61), Johnston (Grant, 61); Diangana (Racic, 68), Wallace (c) (Cole, 61).

Subs not used: Wildsmith, Taylor, Frabotta, Bostock.

Portsmouth (4-2-3-1): Schmid; Devlin, Towler, Pack (c), Ogilvie (Williams, 70); Hayden (Waddingham, 57), Dozzell; Swanson (Swanson, 70), Saydee, Ritchie (Lang, 70); Bishop (Potts, 57).

Subs not used: Archer, McIntyre, Moxon, Atkinson.

Attendance: 25,621 (2,492 Portsmouth fans)

Referee: Jarred Gillett