Déjà Vu for Baggies boss

Last updated : 11 April 2009 By Wba-mad Editor

Scottish Under-21 star midfielder Graeme Dorrans' first goal in Albion colours was not enough to secure three valuable points after the Baggies came from behind to take the lead - but let it slip only three minutes later.

Albion put their dire performance behind them last week against Stoke during an entertaining show at Fratton Park. The visitors found themselves behind during a closely fought first-half when Younes Kaboul opened the scoring in the 33rd minute.

The Baggies equalised with Jonathan Greening's second goal of the season - his second against Pompey this term - before Dorrans opened his Albion and Premier League account. However Croatian international Nico Kranjcar's free-kick only 180 seconds later ensured a share of the points for Pompey.

"We'd have liked to have stayed in front a little bit longer," the Albion chief admitted.

"It would have been an interesting test for Portsmouth if we'd have stayed in front for longer than we did.

"The atmosphere created at Fratton Park by their supporters forces them forward and as the game was unfolding we could maybe have picked some holes in them as they over-committed trying to get an equaliser.

"They got their equaliser pretty quickly afterwards."

After the spirited performance Mowbray reflected: "We had enough opportunities,"

"Even in the first half we got into great goalscoring areas but it wasn't to be for us today.

"It's generally been the story of our season.

"We've given ourselves the chance to win football matches but have invariably ended up losing them - today we drew one.

"We were trying to be positive at the end and making positive substitutions to try and get the win.

"It's been like that for a few weeks.

"At West Ham away recently we got a 0-0 and didn't quite have the quality to finish that game off.

"A game that wasn't too dissimilar to today where for long spells we gave them problems and controlled it.

"We couldn't take the three points and ultimately in football the difference is the quality out on the field."