West Bromwich Albion

Resurgent Portsmouth head to The Hawthorns on Saturday (15:00 GMT) to face Tony Mowbray's West Bromwich Albion.

Pompey have climbed up to 18th, three points clear of the drop-zone, while the Baggies sit seventh, a point outside the play-off places.

• West Brom have lost just two of their past 11 league games against Portsmouth (W7 D2), and after winning the reverse 3-0 in September, will be looking to record a first league double over Pompey since the 2001-02 season.

• Portsmouth have failed to win any of their past seven away league games against West Brom (D2 L5) since a 3-0 victory at the Hawthorns in February 1998.

• West Brom are unbeaten in their last nine home league games (W3 D6), their longest run since April 2023 (a run of 12).

• Portsmouth have lost each of their last five away league games and could lose six in a row for the first time since March 2006 when they lost nine in succession in the Premier League.

• Mikey Johnston has been directly involved in four goals (2 goals, 2 assists) in his last three home league games for West Brom, twice as many as in his first 18 such matches for the club (2).

Image source, Rex Features

West Bromwich Albion forward Grady Diangana says he's more concerned with his fitness than his immediate future.

The 26-year-old, who joined the Baggies permanently from West Ham in September 2020 after a loan spell, is out of contract in the summer.

He has been limited to only seven starts in the Championship so far this season because of injuries and admits returning to full fitness is his priority.

"I've just been trying to get back fit, that's my main focus, that's all I've been working towards and hopefully getting more goals," he said.

"(My future) depends on the club and how they see me, if they need me, so it's day by day."

Diangana has scored two league goals but has been dogged by shoulder and calf muscle injuries.

"It is irritating because as a player you want to be in the rhythm of games but you always have to be positive - I'm breathing and I'm healthy.

"It's the past now and I've just got to keep improving day by day and hopefully I'll be in the team."

The DR Congo international was in the starting line-up for new boss Tony Mowbray's first game in charge as West Brom lost 2-0 at Middlesbrough on Tuesday.

The Baggies host Portsmouth on Saturday.

Chelsea academy graduate Harvey Vale has attracted the eye of Sunderland, Queens Park Rangers, West Bromwich Albion and Oxford United as well as overseas interest. (Sky Sports, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Wednesday's gossip here.

Image source, Rex Features

West Bromwich Albion boss Tony Mowbray is already looking ahead after losing 2-0 on his first game back in management against his first football love, Middlesbrough.

Although Albion dropped to seventh in the Championship, Mowbray is already boldly targeting six points from the Baggies' next two matches.

"We've now got Portsmouth at home on Saturday and then Plymouth away," he told BBC Radio WM.

"If we were to take maximum points from them, we'll be right back up there."

Without injured top scorer Josh Maja, Albion - who have now scored just six goals in their past eight away outings - again looked punchless up front.

"The reality is that we need to score a few goals," he said. "And that is not a new thing. It's about taking responsibility in the final third.

"Maybe it's about confidence. There was one at the end that just needed to someone to be there to put away at the far post.

"The first goal was a bit disappointing. The shot came from 30 yards out and it bounced in front of the keeper.

"Then we got sucker punched by a second goal from outside the box. But it just felt they had a bit more menace than us."

Mowbray also passed up the opportunity to comment on speculation linking Albion with a move for Ipswich Town's 22-year-old Iraq-born, Liverpool-bred winger Ali Al-Hamadi.

"He's an Ipswich player," said Mowbray. "It would be disrespectful to Ipswich to talk about that."

Image source, Getty Images

Tony Mowbray's first press conference ahead of his first game back in charge of West Bromwich Albion ranged from his love of chocolate to his love of Middlesbrough, who the Baggies face on Tuesday night.

The 61-year-old, who was first in charge of the Baggies from 2006 to 2009, watched from the stand as Albion drew 1-1 with Stoke City at The Hawthorns on Saturday.

Now he takes charge for the first time since his return back in his native Boro, with his number two Mark Venus alongside him as per usual, as has been the case at every club he has managed.

Caretaker boss Chris Brunt, who led Albion's three-man caretaker management team for six matches after Carlos Corberan left on Christmas Eve, returns to his role as lead tactical scout and loans manager.

But Brunt's old Baggies team-mate James Morrison, also first signed for Albion by Mowbray in 2007, has become the new first-team coach.

And Mowbray has retained two of Corberan's old backroom team, goalkeeper coach Boaz Myhill and first-team statistical analyst Damia Abella.

Albion are still without top scorer Josh Maja and long-time injury absentee Daryl Dike - but Mowbray's main overall message to his players (and the fans) is to go out there and have some impact at the top end of the Championship table.

Middlesbrough host West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday as they try to move above the visitors in the Championship table (19:45 GMT).

Only the one goal difference separates the sides, with the West Midlands club currently in sixth spot.

Neither club have won either of the past two league games, though a draw would be enough to take both into the play-off places if things do not go well for Blackburn Rovers and Watford elsewhere.

• Middlesbrough have won each of their past two league games against West Brom 1-0, and will be looking to win three in succession against the Baggies for the first time since April 2005.

• West Brom have won one of their past six away league games against Middlesbrough (W1 D2 L3), and could lose on successive such visits for the first time since a run of six losses between February 1991 and April 2005.

• Middlesbrough are unbeaten in each of their past five home league games (W2 D3), though they have drawn each of their past three league matches at the Riverside Stadium.

• West Brom have won one of their past 11 away league games (W1 D7 L3).

• Middlesbrough's Ben Doak has been involved in six goals in his past seven league games at the Riverside Stadium (1 goal, 5 assists).

Image source, Rex Features

We asked you what you made of Tony Mowbray's appointment as successor to Carlos Corberan as West Bromwich Albion head coach.

Here are a selection of fans' thoughts...

Raymond: Mowbray will be under pressure from the get go, given the position Baggies are in the league, that and better will have to be managed that's no easy task, let's hope the balloons don't burst, all the best Tony you'll need it.

Kevin: It's not an appointment that was expected from the club and it's disappointing.

Karsten: The head says "never go back", but the heart says yes please. Very happy that he's fit and well, and also to have him back.

Paul J: It is definitely a very good move for Albion, excellent man and great manager, I wish him all the best for his return to football.

John: Great manager. Sunderland fans were devastated to lose him. All best wishes, Tony, from the Mackems!

Dave: Very happy with the return of Tony Mowbray, just hope his health holds up to the challenge. He knows what the Championship is about and, with a little luck (that's always needed), I believe he is a solid choice for the club. I wish him all the best in returning the club to where we really belong.

Ian: So happy to have him back. A man of stature, resilience and determination.

Andy: The problem we had before was that he attacked too much and defended too little. With his comments so far I fear the same this time. Other teams will be rubbing their hands that they can get at us too easily.

Paul B: No ambition shown by the board. What is it they say, "Never go back"! How many clubs has Tony got promoted since he was with Albion? Why not talk to Sean Dyche?

Paul H: Loved his first stint at the Albion, hope he can rekindle his magic.

West Bromwich Albion are in the final stages of a deal for 21-year-old Standard Liege midfielder Isaac Price - the club's first signing under new boss Tony Mowbray. (Express and Star, external)

Want more transfer news from the EFL? Take a look at Monday's gossip here.

West Bromwich Albion look set to sign Standard Liege midfielder Isaac Price after reported interest from Preston North End. (Lancashire Post), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Sunday's full gossip column.

Image source, PA Media

West Bromwich Albion have re-appointed Tony Mowbray as the club's new boss, following Carlos Corberan's departure to Valencia over Christmas.

Mowbray previously led the Baggies to promotion from the Championship in 2008 before leaving to take over at Celtic the following year.

The appointment sees the 61-year-old return to football after being given the all-clear following treatment for bowel cancer, which caused him to step down from his role at Birmingham City last year.

Have your say on Mowbray's return to The Hawthorns.

Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies.

Ged Scott and Steve Hermon
BBC Sport England

Image source, Rex Features

So it's all done and dusted then - and Tony Mowbray is back at The Hawthorns.

But it all means another irony in that Mowbray returns to take over from one of his first summer signings in that first spell in charge – Chris Brunt.

Brunt, aided by Damia Abella and Boaz Myhill, has been in interim charge of the players since the Christmas Eve departure of Carlos Corberan.

They will be in the dugout for the final time (and that's for definite this time!) at The Hawthorns on Saturday for the Midlands derby against Mark Robins' Stoke City.

In a final twist of fate, that means Mowbray's first official game back in charge of Albion will be on Tuesday night at his beloved Middlesbrough, where he served as captain and manager - and close to where the family home still is.

It all took 24 days to sort in the end - and what a three and half weeks the Baggies' extended festive season has been.

While the Albion hierarchy promised the search for the Spaniard's successor would prioritise detail over speed, impatience grew, especially when their original preferred candidate, Raphael Wicky, turned the job down because he was unable to assemble the backroom staff he wanted.

Earlier in the process, it was reported that former Hibernian, Celtic, Boro, Coventry City, Blackburn Rovers, Sunderland and Birmingham City boss Mowbray had been spoken to about the vacancy.

But that was before Mowbray had received the all-clear on the health front to manage again.

When that came this week, things moved a lot faster - and Wicky's loss is Mowbray's gain - and Albion's!

It remains to be seen what role former Baggies captain Brunt, previously in the role of 'loans manager' before his six-game stint as caretaker boss, will serve for the club.

He has enjoyed three separate promotions in the 18 years since he first joined the Albion payroll, the last of which involved captaining the Baggies to promotion back to the Premier League in his final game for the club in July 2020. It's hard to imagine there won't be another chapter.

So then, West Bromwich Albion have confirmed former boss Tony Mowbray has been appointed as their new head coach.

The 61-year-old joins three weeks after previous boss Carlos Corberan left the club to join La Liga side Valencia.

BBC Radio WM's Steve Hermon tells us all we need to know as Mowbray returns to the club 15 years after his first spell.

Listen to the latest on Mowbray's appointment above or on BBC Sounds here.

Image source, Rex Features

West Bromwich Albion interim head coach Chris Brunt said that being without top scorer Josh Maja for Saturday's home date with Stoke City is a "massive" loss.

Managerless Albion take on Mark Robins' improving Potters in what is expected to be the final game before the expected reappointment of Tony Mowbray as Baggies boss - and they will be at a disadvantage without the man who has netted 12 of their 32 league goals this season.

"It's not just his goals, it's his overall play too," Brunt told BBC Radio WM. "After missing last year with two bad ankle injuries, he's been in great for us this season.

"It's been well documented that we haven't scored enough goals this season anyway, and to be without him now is a massive blow. But we just need people to chip in."

Brunt also played down the notion that they might now have the option of US international Daryl Dike, who has now been out almost a year after a second ruptured Achilles tendon in 10 months.

But he is still only training sporadically - and Brunt warned: "Daryl has had a rough couple of seasons, so we won't be rushing him back. We have to make sure he's all right."

This time next week Brunt is not expected to be the senior figure on the Baggies bench, but to have passed over the baton to Mowbray, the man who brought him to The Hawthorns back in June 2007.

However, he is pleased with the job that he, Boaz Myhill and Damia Abella have done - especially in the wake of former Swiss international Raphael Wicky turning down the job.

"It's been strange," Brunt said. "We thought it was all sorted at the start of the week and then suddenly it wasn't. But we've picked it up and rolled with it. And, bar the first 45 minutes in that first game on Boxing Day at Derby, everybody's been great - and the lads have responded well."