Portsmouth hold Baggies to draw as Mason sent off

Colby Bishop (left) scored his first goal of the season to secure Portsmouth a point on the road

Portsmouth came from behind to draw 1-1 with West Bromwich Albion and deny them a third Championship win, in a game where Baggies boss Ryan Mason was sent off.

Mikey Johnston had put the hosts ahead during the first half, landing a storming strike in the top corner from distance.

Alex Mowatt hit the post shortly after the break as he came closest to doubling West Brom's tally, but Colby Bishop equalised against the run of play at the other end to ensure Portsmouth came away with a point.

Mason was shown a red card with 20 minutes left on the clock and will now face a touchline ban for dissent, after referee Elliot Bell turned down the hosts' penalty appeals and then calls for a red card immediately after for what they believed was a second unpunished foul.

Mason had been enjoying the perfect start to his managerial career with a 100% record following two wins in the first two games.

But it was Pompey who looked more threatening from the start. With news that forward Callum Lang is expected to be out for around six weeks with a hamstring injury, manager John Mousinho came into the match having to shuffle his front line, with Florian Bianchini one of two changes to the starting line-up.

Adrian Segecic dragged a shot wide of the post early on before he fed a cross into the on-loan Frenchman Bianchini in a one-on-one with Baggies keeper Josh Griffiths, who saved his close-range effort in the 20th minute.

But it was a recalled forward at the other end of the pitch who found the net first, as Johnston fired in a rocket from distance to put West Brom 1-0 up six minutes later.

On his first start of the season, Johnston picked up the ball on the edge of the box, switched onto his right foot and fired into the top corner from distance leaving Portsmouth keeper Nicolas Schmid stood stunned as it flew past.

After taking the lead, West Brom continued to control proceedings with Mowatt seeing a shot ricocheting off the post early in the second half.

But it was Portsmouth who drew level as Josh Murphy's cross into the box found the head of Bishop, who beat his defender and expertly glanced the ball into the goal.

West Brom then thought they had a penalty when Aune Heggebo was brought down in the box but their appeals were waved away by the referee.

And when Heggebo was brought down again quickly after and play continued, it was Mason who was shown red for protesting to the referee and sent down the tunnel.

'Frustrated we didn't win' - Gibbs

West Bromwich Albion assistant manager Nigel Gibbs told BBC Radio WM:

"We're a little bit frustrated that we didn't win the game. We had a lot of possession that second-half, we just couldn't find the moment to get us the winner. We felt we had a penalty in that second-half but it wasn't given.

"We pushed right to the end and we looked like the team that was going to get the winner, they didn't have that many chances against us. The lads gave great effort today and they kept pushing to get the winner.

On the penalty appeal and Mason sending-off:

"From where I was it looked a penalty, as did the crowd – everyone in the stadium thought it was a penalty – they didn't. It's frustrating, disappointing what went on. That's football.

"The boys really responded well after that which was the most important thing. They stayed calm, they kept playing, they kept pushing and we had a couple of moments near the end where we nearly got the ball in the right area or it fell to us but it wasn't to be."

Portsmouth manager John Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent:

"It's a brilliant point. It's a step up in terms of the result and certainly in terms of the performance. We deserved it.

"We should have gone ahead. I thought we had the better of the chances and after the equaliser as well we had a 10-15 minute spell where we looked much the better side. Naturally towards the end with the changes that both sides make – we're giving debuts and bringing some young players on - we sank in and had to do a bit of last ditch defending but ultimately the lads really deserved a point.

"As good as West Brom are I didn't think they created a huge amount against us. They had the chance but it's a shot from the edge of the area and there was a chance at the back post but it was given offside. Apart from that I can't remember Nico [Schmid] having to do a huge amount

"It took us going in at half-time to wake up and liven up a bit. It took the equaliser for us to think actually, we might be all right here. We can definitely get something from the game."