Alex Mowatt makes West Brom statement after man of the match display

Mowatt stole the show at Portsmouth yesterday as the midfielder netted two stunning goals for Carlos Corberan’s side to rise to the top of the Championship.

The Baggies remain unbeaten having claimed a fourth win from five this term as 2,000 travelling supporters lauded their lofty position in Hampshire.

Mowatt’s sublime double, strikes from range into each top corner, added to Josh Maja’s quick-fire opener on 54 seconds to seal a convincing victory.

And bullish Mowatt, 29, is confident. Asked if Albion can achieve something special this season, he said: “Yeah definitely, we believe that, but it’s consistency in games, taking it game-by-game.

“We believe we can be up there at the end of the season but we’ve just got to keep going and keep winning.

“That’s where we aim anyway – even last season – we want to be right up there. It’s a long season, there will be bumps in the road, but we’ve got to keep going game-by-game and putting performances in and keep working hard.”

Mowatt’s first goal, Albion’s second, at Fratton Park was his first from open play for almost a year after a strike at Preston last September.

He curled into the top left corner after a pass from John Swift before a second, in stoppage time, was a wonderful free-kick from the edge of the ‘D’ into the top right beyond Will Norris.

Mowatt smiled about his debate with team-mate Mikey Johnston – making his second Baggies debut as a late substitute – prior to dispatching the set-piece. The double equalled the former Leeds and Barnsley man’s entire tally from last term.

“He was doing a lot of begging to be honest!” Mowatt added. “I said to him ‘it’s a leftie!’ and I said to him that I’d score and celebrate with you. They were my words and I just ran off anyway! I was buzzing. Maybe if it was the other side then Mikey, Swifty (John Swift), Uros (Racic), we’ve got quality players who can take those.”

Albion’s squad looked stacked with quality as Corberan’s visitors cantered to victory on the south coast, not far from where their play-off dreams ended at Southampton last season in May. The head coach was able to introduce attackers Johnston, Grady Diangana and Jed Wallace as well as loan midfielder Uros Racic, who has now delivered two lively cameos.

Albion managed just six league victories from 23 attempts in the regular Championship season last year. Yesterday they maintained a 100 per cent record of three wins from three on their travels – and this one involved a first clean sheet.

The unbeaten Baggies return to The Hawthorns on Saturday with Plymouth the visitors.