Jonny Drury analysis: A solid Championship start but West Brom struggled to solve Portsmouth challenge

However, if you take into context the manner of the game and the overall start to the season - Albion fans and I am sure Ryan Mason would have absolutely taken seven points and an unbeaten start in the opening three games.

Heading into the opening game it was a bit of a case of not knowing what to expect - but over the win against Blackburn and success at Wrexham - Mason's Albion have underlined that they are a good side.

A side who can defend solidly but also have attacking quality going forward - and when it really does click and flow they are going to trouble teams enough to win football matches.

Unfortunately on Saturday - Albion weren't at their full, flying, creative best and came up against a Pompey side who came with a game plan and it very much worked.

They stifled Albion, did enough to grab a goal and on the balance of play left The Hawthorns with a deserved point.

But, there are other lines to the story that may have led to a different outcome.

Mason opted for one change to the side that beat Wrexham last week - with Mikey Johnston earning a very deserved and unsurprising recall.

For Johnston, it has been an up and down summer with his collapsed £5m move to Flamengo meaning he arrived at Albion's pre-season training camp late.

He did impress in pre-season, but frustratingly found himself as an unused substitute against Blackburn. However he made a real point to Mason last week with two assists off the bench.

And he took his chance with both hands.

In the opening moments Albion flew out of the blocks, something that seems to be a staple of what Mason wants to see from his Albion side.

Tom Fellows was lively as he delivered in an early ball that came to nothing - as Albion had a bit of a grip on things in the opening exchanges.

But it was quite clear from the off that Portsmouth came with a game plan.

When Albion were attacking they would bank in, but when Albion had the ball in their own third they were not content on just sitting in and inviting Albion on to them.

They wanted to press and that made life difficult for Albion.

In the first two games they looked confident and assured when playing out from tight spaces at the back, but Portsmouth put the squeeze on them and it forced Albion into losing possession on a number of occasions in the first half.

Luckily for Albion, early on Portsmouth failed to capitalise.

In seasons gone by, in games like this where Albion have had to try and find a way to break down sides who come to The Hawthorns and make it difficult, they've struggled for a spark.

A moment from one of their players that can break a game open when a goal doesn't look like its coming.

They found one here though, courtesy of the returning Johnston.

Midway through the half, he picked up the ball and as Portsmouth stood off he dropped the shoulder and wrapped a superb right footed shot into the top corner, giving the keeper no chance.

It was a throwback to the loanee Johnston Albion had from Celtic back in January 2024.

But rather than Albion turning the screw, Portsmouth now looked the more likely and should have levelled when a slack pass was pounced on and Florian Bianchini went one on one with Josh Griffiths - only to be denied by the Albion shot stopper.

It was a big save in the context of the game on an afternoon when Griffiths was hardly tested.

Albion needed more after the break and they did get it, pegging Pompey into their own territory early in the half.

But then against the run of play they struck. Josh Murphy was given too much room to cross and Colby Bishop got the run on George Campbell to head home.

It was what they deserved.

Albion sprung back into life as Alex Mowatt crashed an effort off the post. You felt if that went in, it was curtains.

But the game will be remembered for two big moments. Aune Heggebo was hauled down in the box but the ref waved away claims for a spot kick - and moments later when he failed to send last man Regan Poole off as he pulled back Heggebo - the flashpoint came.

Mason, already booked for penalty protests, was sent off. 

Albion kept pressing but to no real avail.

The positive aspect late on as there only looked like one side who would win it, but in truth, it is hard to argue that Albion really did enough to deserve to win the game.

Contentious refereeing decisions aside, they certainly didn't create enough and Pompey were good value.

It may not be a reality check, because it is a solid return of seven points from three games. But Albion struggled to find a way to unlock the door. The challenge will present itself again this season - and it'll be interesting to see how Mason goes about solving it.