West Bromwich Albion legend James Morrison has delivered an honest assessment of the Baggies' 4-1 victory over Portsmouth in the Championship, praising the team's attacking flair while pointing out areas for improvement.
Morrison's verdict: positives and negatives
Speaking after the match, Morrison said: "There were bits I liked and bits I didn't. The attacking play was excellent, but defensively we were sloppy at times." The former midfielder, who made over 300 appearances for the club, highlighted the performance of winger Grady Diangana, who scored twice, as a key positive.
West Brom took the lead through an own goal before Diangana doubled the advantage. Portsmouth pulled one back just before half-time, but the Baggies responded with two more goals in the second half to seal a comfortable win. Morrison noted that the team's ability to bounce back after conceding was encouraging.
Defensive concerns remain
Despite the emphatic scoreline, Morrison expressed concern over defensive lapses. "We gave Portsmouth too many chances. Against better sides, we might get punished," he warned. The Baggies have now conceded in each of their last five league games, a trend that manager Carlos Corberan will be keen to address.
Statistics show that West Brom have kept only two clean sheets in their last 15 Championship matches, highlighting a persistent issue. Morrison urged the team to tighten up at the back if they are to mount a promotion challenge.
Diangana shines
Grady Diangana was the standout performer, scoring twice and causing constant problems for the Portsmouth defence. Morrison praised the winger's confidence and directness, saying: "When Grady plays like that, he's unplayable. He needs to maintain this level consistently."
The win moves West Brom up to fifth in the Championship table, keeping them firmly in the playoff picture. Morrison believes the squad has the quality to compete for promotion but must address defensive frailties to sustain their push.
