Portsmouth

Portsmouth V Chelsea

Wednesday, 24^th March – 19:45 GMT

Portsmouth

League Position: 20th

Recent Form: LWLLW 

This looks a priceless fixture on paper for Portsmouth fans, and we bet tickets will be extremely hard, if not impossible, to come by for Wednesday nights clash with title chasing Chelsea. With Arsenal, Man Utd & Liverpool embracing Fratton Park earlier in the season, Chelsea represent the last of the ‘Big Four’ sides to take to Fratton Park in what seemingly looks to be the last time Portsmouth fans will get to watch their team take on one of England’s finest in a Premiership encounter. We doubt they’ll be an empty seat in the house, but what Avram Grant and the club need is an unbelievable atmosphere on Wednesday night as nostalgic thoughts go straight out of the window in a game Portsmouth have no option but to win.

Portsmouth will need to do something they’ve only achieved four times this season, and that’s win at Fratton Park, if they are to harbour any realistic hopes of avoiding what appears to be a certain drop down to The Championship. It’s a shame because the gap between them and safety would only have been five points were it not for the points deduction, which means survival now looks beyond the realms of possibility. Even so, with eight games still left to play, including this home fixture with Chelsea, there are just enough points avilable for Portsmouth to get onto a stable points tally of 37 should they win all eight. It’s a huge ask but at least the fans have something to cling onto.

Survival does look a dream and that dream could soon turn into a nightmare should the expected happen on Wednesday night. Portsmouth aren’t being given much of a chance by bookmakers around the land, which is understandable considering their dire situation at current, but perhaps there is a tiny-winy bit of value in a Portsmouth shock in that the morale in the camp looks pretty high considering, especially after their sensational u-turn on Saturday, overhauling Hull’s 2-1 lead to win 3-2. Moreover, Fratton Park has been the setting for some memorable victories for Portsmouth this season, none more so than their 2-0 victory in the FA Cup against Birmingham which booked their place in the semi-finals. So perhaps Portsmouth’s price quote of 12/1 does represent some form of value, at least for those of you with sentimental values.

To be blunt though, we don’t see Portsmouth upsetting the odds on Wednesday and all those with sense will think similar. They were lucky to snatch three points on Saturday in a game they looked destined to lose, while their form at Fratton Park this season hasn’t been great, even if there have been brief glimpses of magic. In 15 league matches at Fratton Park, Portsmouth have managed to convert just four of those into wins, while their victory over Hull at the weekend, a side also destined for the drop it would seem, was just their first league win at home for over three months. While we would all love a Portsmouth surprise on Wednesday, it just doesn’t look likely of materializing.

Chelsea

League Position: 3rd

Recent Form: LWLWD

Carlo Ancelotti has conceded that the title is now Manchester United’s to lose after Chelsea came unstuck at Blackburn on Sunday, while United were earlier dispatching of Liverpool. To add to Chelsea’s woes, even local rivals Arsenal celebrated victory at the weekend leaving Chelsea to drown their sorrows on a sorely missed opportunity. They do, however, have an ideal opportunity to close the gap on United to just a single point with this trip to Portsmouth, while victory would also lift them above Arsenal into second position in the table, so there is certainly all to play for as far as Chelsea are concerned.

It’s been a terribly tough week for Chelsea and Carlo Ancelotti, with their hugely disappointing draw at Ewood Park compounding their misery of what was an equally miserable midweek in the Champions League, exiting the greatest club competition on the planet just four days earlier. It’s pretty clear the defeat to Inter Milan in the Champions League has been a bitter blow to the Chelsea ranks, who have yet to recover from that significant blow. They started brightly on Sunday however, even taking an early lead through Didier Drogba, his 22^nd of the season, but they faded badly and it was typical that another defensive mistake would cost them when Diouf popped up to score with a header at the back post without any Chelsea defender tracking him. 

Defence has been an area of concern for Carlo Ancelotti, whom has now seen his usually solid Chelsea side not keep a clean sheet in four of their last five competitive fixtures. Moreover, the one occasion in five Chelsea have kept a clean sheet in an away league fixture was at Molineux against Wolves, hardly the most daunting of teams. It must be said that Chelsea are missing some influential figures at the back; Petr Cech, Hilario (Gk’s), Bosingwa and Ashley Cole, while John Terry’s off-pitch fiasco’s have been distracting him from his work for some time now, with his performance levels seriously on the decline. It’s got to the point where Ross Turnbull, whom isn’t a bad goalkeeper by any stretch of the imagination, is now Chelsea’s only available goalkeeper, leaving Chelsea extremely vulnerable and exposed at the back, so much so that just about every team has been exploiting it in recent weeks.

Even with Chelsea’s defensive issues, some would even say crisis, anything less than three points at Fratton Park would be a catastrophe as this is a three-point banker on paper. We don’t see them slipping up down South simply because they have the fire-power up front to roll Portsmouth over, but they could find themselves in a spot of bother if they don’t buck up in double quick time. Their following two fixtures are against Aston Villa and Man Utd, two games which will test their title credentials to the fullest. So winning at Fratton Park, ideally in an emphatic fashion, is a must ahead of some tough, potential make-or-break, league fixtures.

Match Verdict: Chelsea to WIN – 1.30 Bet365

You would expect nothing less than Chelsea to stroll through this fixture, but that doesn’t mean they’re any great value or worth doing. Even so, we have to give a prediction and anything other than a Chelsea win would be a major shock. There are worries surrounding the Chelsea defence but not enough to have us doubting their ability to overpower a weak and inept Portsmouth. It would take a performance of some proportion from Portsmouth to win, but even so, I’d rather be on Portsmouth with a small stake then Chelsea at their respective odds, but in the business it’s all about tipping winners and Chelsea look the likely winner in this contest.

Match Odds:

Portsmouth – 12.00 Boylesports

Draw – 6.00 SkyBet

Chelsea – 1.30 bet365

Football-Betting.co.uk Value Tip: Portsmouth to Score Exactly 1 Goal – 2.62 SkyBet

Portsmouth V Hull City

Saturday, 20^th March – 15:00 GMT

Portsmouth

League Position: 20th

Recent Form: DLWLL

Portsmouth’s fortunes are about to turn decidedly worse as a nine-point deduction for entering into administration is about to be enforced on them, which would make the club the first ever to partake in a Premiership fixture whilst in administration – A record, but not one Pompey fans will be jumping over the hill about. With relegation to The Championship almost a certainty now, the players face an almost impossible task of avoiding the drop as the gap between them and safety would be a hefty seventeen points, but they do have the chance on Saturday to at least reduce the deficit with victory over a Hull side with problems of their own.

Portsmouth, though, don’t have too many fond memories of playing Hull, and neither do we as spectators as the last two meetings between the two have finished goalless. However, these two have only met once at Fratton Park before and that ended in an entertaining 2-2 draw, although that did come at a time when both teams knew how to score and weren’t in crisis. That isn’t really the case now, far from it, with Portsmouth managing just 25 goals after 29 games – Averaging less than a-goal-a-game. They have, however, scored a large proportion of those at Fratton Park, 17 in fact, so if there are to be goals ever in another meeting between the two then Saturday could be the day. 

Pompey’s recent form at Fratton Park though is abysmal to say the very least, with their home record looking more like that of an away one (3-2-9). Their accumulation of just three home wins is the worst in the league, while their nine defeats they’ve suffered on home soil is also the highest. Just to compound the misery of the fans, Portsmouth haven’t won a home fixture since the middle of December when beating Liverpool 2-0. A victory which was recently reversed in emphatic style just last Monday with Liverpool gaining their revenge by smashing Portsmouth 4-1 at Anfield.

We’ve said this a few times now and Pompey have popped up to prove us wrong on each occasion, but surely their heavy defeat at Anfield on Monday night is the last we’ll see of Portsmouth in that surely they don’t have an awful lot more in the tank to give. The morale of the squad can’t be at all high right now as the club is a farce, while you’d like to think their leave their best performance for the Semi-Final clash with either Fulham or Tottenham, which isn’t too far away now. Even so, we don’t rate Hull so Pompey fans could be celebrating early, albeit in a somewhat in vein manner.

Hull City

League Position: 19th

Recent Form: WLLLL

It’s been a bit of a pantomime at The KC in recent days, with the farcical ranging from a Jimmy Bullard Vrs Nick Barmby scrap to Phil Brown ultimately leaving his post, or being thrown out as the comments we heard seemed to reveal. We actually felt it was a smart decision from the board, what with their being nine games left to change Hull’s fortunes in avoiding the drop, and it’s nine fresh games for the new manager to come into the club and impose his new tactics and style of play onto a team that weren’t going anywhere fast. 

Ian Dowie, Hull City’s new man at the helm (A popular pundit on Sky Sports News), was Phil Brown’s replacement and it’s been a good few years since we seen the former Crystal Palace manager, as well as many other clubs he’s been associated with, strutting his stuff on the sidelines. Only time will tell whether he has the spark and motivational skills still in his locker to lift Hull out of the doom and gloom of the drop zone, but he does have an opportunity to earn cult status at the club should he do the audacious and avoid the drop.

The problem for Dowie is Hull’s recent exploits in the league haven’t shown any indications that the players are up for the fight, with the Tigers’ 2-1 defeat at home to Arsenal last Saturday their fourth league defeat on the spin. However, it’s about to sound a whole lot worse for Ian Dowie as this Hull crop struggle to Kingdom come in away outings, with Hull yet to register an away win all season, with a record of 0-4-11. It doesn’t stop there though, as Hull fans are having to endure an away losing run of four games currently, although fans are praying Iain Dowie is the man to get them out of this slumber.

Fortunately for Dowie, he doesn’t have too many injuries or suspensions to deal with, while he even has the lively character of Jimmy Bullard at his disposal, something Phil Brown was unfortunate not to have on most matchdays. It was Jimmy Bullard, the joker of the Hull pack, who equalised on Saturday from the penalty spot against Arsenal. Both Bullard and Dowie will need to raise the spirits of the players after a string of bad results, but the players could react positively to this change in management as places in the starting eleven are now up for grabs – and there to be lost.

Match Verdict: Draw – 3.40 Boylesports

This was difficult as neither look worthy of a win on paper, whilst all three previous meetings between the two have finished honours even. However, if we were to have a punt then it probably would be Hull, although we wouldn’t touch them either unless some tropical lady dressed in a Tigers shirt paid me to. The draw is the only selection we feel most comfortable with, and so we’ll play safe with that punt, although we hope for the fans sake we get a good game down at Fratton Park as the fans could do with some entertainment, while they need to saviour every last moment of Premiership action as they won’t be returning any time soon you would feel.

Match Odds:

Portsmouth – 2.20 SkyBet

Draw – 3.40 Boylesports

Hull City – 3.60 Bet365

Football-Betting.co.uk Value Pick: 2-2 Correct Score – 15.00 totesport

Liverpool V Portsmouth

Monday, 15^th March – 20:00 GMT

TV Coverage: ESPN

Liverpool

League Position: 6th

Recent Form: WLDWL

Shocking, pathetic, utterly useless, just a few brief description that could sum up Liverpool’s recent display away at Wigan Athletic. Only Liverpool, a team who’ve fallen acres from heaven down to hell since an enjoyable last season, could lose to a Wigan side who had previously not won a league fixture in seven games. Their lousy team performance got what it deserved, a smack in the face with defeat, and that loss has left Liverpool squirming in seventh and al but out of the race for fourth spot in our eyes.

The gap now looks unbridgeable for Rafael Benitez’s lost looking Liverpool side, who after defeat find themselves a point behind the leading contenders, which doesn’t sound at all bad but the rest all have games in hand over the Reds, with Liverpool having played three more than some. They need a miracle in our opinion, as not only would they need to win all their remaining games, and that looks an impossible and unachievable feat, but they would also need those around them, teams who’ve been far more consistent then they have, to lose a large chunks of their remaining fixtures. The term ‘Not a hope in hell’ springs to mind. 

As far as an honest assessment in this fixture goes; you would like to think Liverpool are certainties but you just don’t get that feeling about them any more, even in a fixture such as this against a team rock-bottom of the Premier League. While they’ve been winning the majority of their games of late, their performance have rarely merited all three points while they’ve still yet to really put a strong run of result together, with Liverpool not managing to string together a run of three successive wins since September of last year. Of course, with Liverpool losing on Monday they look assured to win a week to the day later as that’s what Liverpool do, put in an abysmal display one week before returning to winning ways with a fortunate and undeserved win.

While we couldn’t oppose Liverpool, simply because Portsmouth are a team everyone should be beating, we wouldn’t advise anyone to go delving into their ridiculously low price to win in 90 minutes as they just aren’t worth it. Liverpool have not once lived up their odds-on price tag this season, at least as far as I can remember, so why any one would stick Liverpool in this bets against a team which have shown far more hunger and determination then they have in recent weeks is beyond me. The Reds look lacklustre, out-of-sorts and low in confidence. Not only that but Rafa has them playing in such a disciplined manner that they’re dull to even watch, and that’s coming from a Liverpool fan.

Portsmouth

League Position: 20th

Recent Form: LDLWL

Just when things were looking up, Birmingham pay you a visit and give you a firm reality check. Pompey were given a small dose of their own medicine on Tuesday night by the same team they beat to progress into the semi-finals of the FA Cup just last Saturday. A 2-1 defeat at home to Birmingham City took Portsmouth losing tally for the season to nineteen and left the club five points adrift of safety, although that gap will extend after a nine point penalty for going into administration is enforced.

Every sliver lining and all that, well, Portsmouth ray of sunshine comes in the form of the FA Cup. Their last remaining chance of glory, although the fans would throw all the cup euphoria away if they could exchange it for Premiership safety. That’s not a possibility though, but the dream of making the finals of the FA Cup for the second time in three years is a reality, although you wouldn’t of put your money on it happening, and probably still won’t if truth be told after drawing either Fulham or Tottenham in the next round, but still, at least the fans have something to cheer about after an horrendous season thus far.

The Portsmouth players really did rise to the occasions on Saturday, with the fans right behind them as they battled their hardest for a place in the Semi-Finals of the oldest domestic club competition in the world. Their determination and sheer doggedness to resist going down without a fight earned them a memorable 2-0 win on Saturday, although they returned to their Jekyll & Hyde ways when losing in a miserable manner to the very same side they put out of the cup just seven days ago. We would love to say this typifies Portsmouth’s season thus far as it doesn’t, that would actually be an over exaggeration in what has been a dire campaign for a club destined to slide down the leagues it would seem. 

It certainly doesn’t get any easier mind as they prepare to make the long trip up north to face Liverpool at Anfield. Funnily enough, one of Pompey’s five wins this season season did come against Liverpool back at Fratton Park, but that shouldn’t count for anything as their away form this season, and of late for that matter, has been abysmal, with just two away wins to their name after fourteen outings, although they did win on their very last venture away from the South Coast in a 2-1 win at Burnley.

Match Verdict: Liverpool to WIN – 1.25 BetFred

I think if this was any team other than Portsmouth heading up to Anfield then Liverpool wouldn’t be the selection. However, I just wouldn’t feel comfortable opposing Liverpool, that makes me chuckle considering it’s usually the right option nowadays, against a team rock-bottom of the Premiership and are just mere days from being walloped with a nine point penalty, one which will effectually rip them of their Premiership. status. Moreover, after enduring defeat at the hands of struggling Wigan Athletic during the week, this is now a fixture just have to win, literally, as anything but would definitely rule them out of the running for fourth spot in our eyes, that if they aren’t already out of contention already after that Latics defeat. The Reds need a win, a convincing one to give the morale a camp in a big boost, and they may just get it at the expense of a demoralised Portsmouth.

Match Odds:

Liverpool – 1.25 BetFred

Draw – 5.50 Bet365

Portsmouth – 15.00 SkyBet

Football-Betting.co.uk Value Pick: Fernando Torres FGS – 3/1 Coral

FA Cup: Quarter-Final

Portsmouth V Birmingham City

Kick-Off: Saturday, 6^th March – 12:30 GMT

TV Coverage: ITV1

Portsmouth

FA Cup Odds: 20/1 Bet365

The inevitable took place last Friday as Portsmouth FC entered into administration becoming the very first Premiership club to ever do so. It was a miserable day for Portsmouth fans but it was also a low-point for English football as yet another one of England’s old-timers begins its predicted slumber down the leagues. However, while the Pompey players could be forgiven for feeling a tad sorry for themselves they instead went and put a valiant shift in up at Turf Moor, with a 2-1 victory being their just rewards for a spirited performance after a miserable week and year for the club.

The FA will soon dock Portsmouth nine points for entering into administration and that would leave the club almost certain to suffer relegation, if that wasn’t the expected destination for Pompey anyway. At the time this preview was written (Monday, 29^th Feb) Portsmouth were still rock-bottom of the Premier League but a more reasonable five points off safety. With the point penalty, however, Portsmouth are expected to fall a further nine points off safety, leaving the club need to claw back a fourteen point deficit just to stay in the Premiership. While there maybe still thirty-three points still up for grabs, Portsmouth’s death looks assured as they’ve not shown anywhere near enough form to suggest they will win the vast majority of their remaining fixtures in order to stay up – So prepare to wave goodbye to a rare South Coast Premiership side.

As far as betting on them in Saturday’s affair, it’s hard to weigh up their chances especially after their weekend heroics at Burnley. Many, including us, thought administration was the nail in the coffin and that the players would now lose all their remaining spirit and belief and simply roll over. They proved us and everyone else wrong with a whole-hearted display away at Burnley, what was just their second away win of the season. More importantly, however, that shock victory ended their baron run of eight league games without a win but they do return back to a venue where they’ve not enjoyed that winning feeling in either of their previous games at Fratton Park.

The South Coast has been the setting for better tidings though, with three of their fives league wins coming down at Fratton Park and Portsmouth losing two less games their. It’s nothing to write home about but it’s these small positives that will keep the fans flickering flames alive… just. The problem being, though, is that Portsmouth have managed just two draws in their last four at home, with the other two ending in disappointing defeats. However, Avram Grant will feel his sides have much more of a chance of picking up points at a venue where the players have clearly found more settling, with sixteen of their twenty-three league games coming in home fixtures. That’s a big difference and it’s also worth pointing out that Portsmouth have scored in each of their last nine home games, although on just three of those occasions did Pompey surpass one goal, so where there is a glimmer of hope we’ve quickly jumped in to extinguish it. Sorry Pompey fans!

However, their league form should go out of the window in many respects as the FA Cup is now far more significant in that a place in the Semi-Finals at Wembley is up for grabs. We do have huge concerns over their defence, one which has been shaky throughout the course of the season, but they’ve shown so much heart and character of late that we wouldn’t deter anyone from backing Portsmouth to defy the odds and keep this unfortunate dream/nightmare alive. One thing we will say is the FA Cup is now the teams last chance to repay the fans for their support throughout what has been a heartbreaking season. They will have the majority of the neutrals behind them, but Portsmouth will be going out to win on Saturday purely for the fans sake.

Birmingham City

FA Cup Odds: 12/1 bWin

Alex McLeish will surely be licking his lips at the prospect of taking his surprise package of Birmingham all the way to the Semi-Final at Wembley. Their opponents are a cash-strapped, knocking on deaths door Portsmouth, with the only real stumbling block for them being their lack of home advantage. It’s a crucial factor as were this tie to be at St. Andrews, Birmingham would be the firm favourites. They aren’t, however, and it’s up to the players to silence the Pompey crowd in what should be a subdued atmosphere but certainly won’t be as the fans give it one last hoorah in a bid to drive their ‘sick’ club into a memorable Semi-Final.

A Birmingham side who sit eighth in the Premiership will be supremely confident over their chances of winning on Saturday after a sensational season up till this point. They club are in fact pushing for a European finish, not that Alex McLeish will want to believe it. However, whereas Portsmouth have their minds distracted by so many issues; league position and money concerns one of a few, Birmingham have next to none and can place their full attention on their next big task at hand: Winning Saturday;s Quarter-Final clash down on the South coast.

While this isn’t an away fixture in the league, it’s worth point out that Birmingham have been less effective on their travels this season. At home Birmingham have accumulated a total of 26 points, whereas they’ve amassed nearly half-as-less as that away from home, with 14 points collected so far from away outings. It’s still very respectable for a club which were fancied for relegation at the start of the term by some punters, not us mind, but it does highlight a minor flaw, with their slightly lacklustre away efforts leaving them a tad exposed down South.

Moreover, Birmingham have lost their last three away fixtures whilst back in Premiership action, which isn’t ideal form heading into an away tie in the FA Cup, but, to our amazement, all of Birmingham’s three victories in the competition thus far came away from St. Andrews, with victory’s at Nott’m Forest, Everton and Derby County, all of which were by a familiar one goal margin. Their solid outlook on games has clearly paid dividends in this competition so far and who would back against them making it four away wins on the trot in this competition by beating Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Saturday?

Match Verdict: Portsmouth to WIN – 2.62 Bet365

The answer to the above question is us as we feel it could be the last memorable game down at Fratton Park for quite some time on Saturday, and we only hope it’s one to remember for all the right reasons for the home crowd. It’s hard to imagine the players can even focus at this moment in time but they shown last Saturday their heads are in the right frame of mind and that all they’re interested in once they get onto that pitch is winning matches, or at least trying to their utmost to do so. They weren’t classy on Saturday, nor were they entirely convincing – far from it – but they were gutsy and we will be one of many around the country to lend our sofa support on Saturday.

Our Bet: Over 2.5 Goals – 2.38 WilliamHill

There is only one outcome that would let us done on Saturday, and that’s a 1-1 draw. Portsmouth haven’t failed to score in a home fixture since September, while their defence looks so frail that Birmingham would have to be drastically poor not to score on Saturday, so goals look to be assured in a fixture that would normally look dull on paper. Portsmouth were fired up for their last round clash against Southampton but were extremely sluggish getting out of the blocks. A similarly poor start would almost certainly see Birmingham clinch an early lead. However, Birmingham have failed to keep a clean sheet in either of their previous two away outings in the cup and so goals looks a logical outcome. Two teams who will do all they can to win but two sides who will struggle to keep it neat and tidy at the back – Bring on the 3 Goals or More we say!

Match Odds:

Portsmouth – 2.62 Bet365

Draw – 3.40 SkyBet

Birmingham City – 2.75 PaddyPower

Burnley V Portsmouth

Saturday, 27^th February – 15:00 GMT

Burnley

League Position: 19th

Recent Form: LLWLL

Possibly a season defining period for Burnley as their upcoming fixtures are all against sides either in and around them or in the bottom half of the table. However, their first task looks the easiest of the lot on paper as they set out to compile Portsmouth’s woes by adding three points to their own cause at Pompey’s expense. Defeat, however, could prove costly as not only would it have been a missed opportunity for The Clarets but it would also allow Portsmouth to narrow the gap on them and leave Burnley stranded in 19^th.

Burnley are this seasons version of Hull City because; after a sensational start, with the highlight being the 1-0 victory at home to Manchester United before a number of home wins, they have gone completely off the boil and have nosedived down the table into relegation territory. Their fall from grace has not only been emphatic but also hard felt as it’s clearly had an adverse effect on the confidence levels of the entire squad. We have the evidence to back this statement up as Burnley have only won one of their last fifteen in the league and have lost a staggering six of their last seven games. All this is a far cry from the form they were enjoying at the very start of the season and why Burnley are serious relegation candidates.

To rub salt in the wound, Burnley were given yet another spanking at the weekend when Aston Villa rolled five past them at Villa Park in a 5-2 defeat for Burnley. That was Burnley’s thirteenth away defeat of the campaign, so they can count themselves lucky they don’t have to travel again this Saturday as they stay put at home, at Turf Moor. It has, though, been a venue where Burnley have been far better in both the performance and results area. It has been the setting where Burnley come out of their shell more, with the players often rising to the occasion in front of a packed home support, often playing on the front foot and with an all out attacking mindset. Their more aggressive manner at home has seen them pick up a creditable twenty-two points out of a possible thirty-six at home, which is a million miles better than their one point from a possible forty-two away from home.

If Burnley are to survive their inaugural season in the Premiership then it will be solely down to their decent form at Turf Moor. However, they still require plenty more points, probably somewhere around the 37 marker, and so Burnley will need to pick up far more points than they’ve been doing of late if they are to have a fighting chance of avoiding the drop. The concern surrounding Burnley, though, is that even results at home are beginning to dry up, with Burnley only managing one win from their last six home fixtures. They were on the winning side in their last home encounter with West Ham, but that was against a Hammers side who hadn’t yet gelled after a number of new signings, whereas Portsmouth, although they aren’t playing particularly well, are working as a team and fighting for their desperate cause, but Pompey could be down and out after their bitter home defeat to Stoke City last Saturday so perhaps a Burnley win should be a formality providing the players don’t get overconfident.

Portsmouth

League Position: 20th

Recent Form: LLLDL 

Portsmouth are a club in ruin and already look destined for the drop, what with a potential 9-point penalty hanging over them. The reports are that the club find themselves in a £70,000,000 debt predicament, one they have no idea how to solve. Their money issues is an unwanted distraction from the main task at hand of avoiding relegation, but, more importantly, it’s piling yet more pressure onto those currently on the front-line at the club, the ones paid to actually get a result each Saturday – The players. Defeat this Saturday for the South coast side, accompanied by a couple more in the following few weeks, and Portsmouth could find themselves dead and buried before the FA even gets started on them.

When you’re down the bottom, at the very pit of the table, everything seems to go against you. That was definitely the case on Saturday as Portsmouth succumbed to their eighteenth defeat of the season when losing 2-1 to Stoke City at Fratton Park. It was a game Portsmouth pressed and pressed, troubling a usually sterdy Stoke defence with their attacks and attempts on goal. However, when Piquionne scored a perfectly legit goal just minutes into the game, only to see his effort ruled out wrongly for off-side, you just knew it wasn’t going to be there day, and that the football Gods certainly weren’t watching over the cash-strapped club. They did, however, take the lead through Piquionne ten minutes before half-time, but Portsmouth threw away their lead, three crucial points the drain and a potential lifeline of a win when some poor marking from a corner led to Roberth Huth heading in an unchallenged equaliser. However, the worst was still yet to come as in the 90^th minute, Salif Diao, slid home to leave the once jubilant Pompey crowd close to tears as the final outcome was yet another defeat.

With myself coming from the South, although I have no direct connection with Portsmouth FC, it was heartbreaking to see such a turnaround at Fratton Park on Saturday as that bitter defeat really could be the nail in the coffin as far as keeping the spirit at the club at a reasonable level. That late blow will have felt like daggers to the heart for Portsmouth and it’s players, to see their valiant efforts go in vein. Losing isn’t unfamiliar with Pompey, so the players won’t have been too disheartened with that part of the game, but the manner in which they lost could have huge implications in that the players might now start feeling sorry for themselves and feel a league win is impossible, no matter how hard they try.

To be honest, it was always going to be a mammoth task lifting Portsmouth out of the relegation zone and into safety as their squad is full of Championship players, with the exception being just a few African contingents and Jamie O’Hara. Pompey just don’t have the players in their squad capable of mounting a serious safety push so their decline was somewhat inevitable. The defeat on Saturday was the straw that broke the camels back and it really would take some exceptional motivational speech from Avram Grant to lift his troops after such a demoralising result in their last fixture.

Match Verdict: Burnley to WIN – 2.25 Bet365

The Portsmouth players were battling on stoutly despite all their money issues, but their recent setback, that of a 2-1 home defeat to Stoke, we feel will have knocked the stuffing out of the players and it’s hard to see them coming back from that. Burnley were given a lesson in how to play the beautiful game on Sunday when losing their thirteenth away game of the season at Aston Villa, but they did still manage to score twice at Villa Park and they did score two goals in their previous home outing in a 2-1 win over West Ham. Burnley’s form at home is what will keep them in the league and so a home fixture with Portsmouth is like gold-dust to them and for their cause.

Match Odds:

Burnley – 2.25 Bet365

Draw – 3.40 SkyBet

Portsmouth – 3.40 Boylesports

Football-Betting.co.uk Value Tip: Burnley/Burnley (HT/FT Betting) – 4.00 StanJames

Portsmouth V Stoke City

Saturday, 20^th February – 17:30 GMT (ESPN)

Portsmouth

League Position: 20th

Recent Form: DLLLD
 

While business off the pitch isn’t booming, far, far from it, there is still the small matter of earning points on the field which still needs to be finalised and a win on Saturday against a combative Stoke City would at least keep their Premiership flame alive. Defeat, however, could quite literally spell the end for Portsmouth as the club are already eight points adrift of safe land and could be further behind once the tax man has his wicked way with the club, possibly ending in a heavy points deduction if they’re not careful. It’s worrying times but the mood in camp will have brightened after their FA Cup and Derby day success at Southampton and perhaps this is when Portsmouth really kick their revival push into motion.

With twenty-five league games now done and dusted, although Pompey would wish for them back if they had a magic genie -and a few quid while they’re at it – Portsmouth have acquainted themselves rather nicely to the bottom of the league and haven’t budged since the start of the season. With points few and far between and actual wins at a premium, this Nile like gap between them and safety just seems to grow with every passing fixture. However, that could and would change were they to notch up a win this weekend in a fixture which is more than winnable but will require more than just an appearance from the Pompey players.

On Saturday, when they took on Southampton in the FA Cup, Portsmouth were sluggish out of the blocks and should have conceded a handful of goals within the first 30 minutes. However, they rode their luck and the Saints storm to eventually run out flattering 4-1 winners. However, if they were to produce a similarly bad start on Saturday against Stoke then they might not be as fortunate. The Potters, while they do possess a terrible away record this season of one away win in thirteen, are equipped to better such a dire run and could do so with an early goal as they love to sit and defend leads. With this in mind, it’s imperative that Portsmouth sprinting out of the blocks and don’t concede early on. The spirit in camp might have lifted a tad after their weekend victory down in Southampton but it’s still not as high as it should and probably not strong enough to claw back any sort of deficit.

Another factor which will have a big impact on how Portsmouth fare on Saturday’s is the fans and what type of support they plan on giving their team. We know matters on and off the pitch haven’t been rosy, with rosy being an understatement, but booing you side after just 30 minutes played with the score at 0-0 is not the solution and certainly won’t raise the confidence levels of an already drained squad. While survival looks almost impossible, there is still the smallest of chances that Portsmouth could avoid such a travesty and a win on Saturday could kick-start a decent run for Pompey. However, this isn’t possible without the support of the fans and we hope every single home fan gets right behind their team on Saturday as the players need all the support they can get at this moment in time.

Stoke City

League Position: 12th

Recent Form: WDDWD

Stoke will be buoyed by their recent draw with Man City in the FA Cup and will be supremely confident of registering just their second away win of the season when they travel down south to take on Portsmouth at Fratton Park. Just like their opponents, the statistics would indicate that they don’t have much chance of winning this game but the two sides predicament, Stoke’s being their shy away record, means both are actually capable of recording a big away win.  

The Potters weren’t expected to get a draw at The City of Manchester stadium on Saturday, but they did, nor were they expected to outplay their northern opponents, yet they did. In fact, Stoke were a tad unfortunate not to have on Saturday in a game they performed brilliantly in. They were tight, compact, well organised and extremely well disciplined at the back – all traits we’ve come to recognise with Stoke nowadays, whilst they were far more threatening in the final third than their illustrious opponents, whom rarely troubled Sorenson in the Stoke goal. The draw was a disappointing result in the end but it does leave Stoke with a home replay and one they will fancy their chances in back in front of is expected to be a capacity Stoke support.

While their weekend display was a pleasing one, it was a rare positive away performance from what has generally been a poor Stoke side away from The Brittania. In twelve away fixtures, Stoke have managed just the one win, although that was a sublime 1-0 victory at Tottenham Hotspur. However, with that bizarre win to one side, Stoke have been very poor away from home, especially in front of goal. We aren’t too sure which statistic is worse – The one where they’ve won just once in twelve games of the one that reads five goals in twelve away games. Both make for horrendous reading but we suppose it’s the latter which raises the alarm bells; as the old adage goes “You can’t win games i you don’t score’ and Stoke certainly don’t score frequently enough.

Stoke have failed to score in over half of their away outings thus far (7/12), but surely they won’t have a better chance to bolster their lacklustre goal tally than a trip to Portsmouth against the team at the bottom of the league. Moreover, a two game unbeaten run away from home is something they can build upon, with draws at Sunderland & Wigan Athletic leaving The Potters on the verge of a three match unbeaten away run should they avoid defeat on Saturday.

Match Verdict: Portsmouth to WIN – 2.50 Boylesports

To be honest, both these sides could record a win on Saturday. Stoke haven’t been the same side on the road that has seen them pick up plenty of points back home at The Brittania, and so their claims aren’t as solid as perhaps they should be. Portsmouth, however, have been terrible all round but are running out of glorious opportunities, like this one, to actually win games. The Southerners did prove on Saturday that they can weather a storm and that with patience comes results. The scoreline was flattering on Portsmouth but the emphatic score should have been the boost in confidence the squad needed ahead of some crucial Premiership fixtures. If they can be just as clinical in front of goal, something which has been an ever present problem in their play this season, then a vital set of three points could be all theirs.

Match Odds:

Portsmouth – 2.50 Boylesports

Draw – 3.40 SkyBet

Stoke City – 3.20 Bet365

Football-Betting.co.uk Value Tip: Jamie O’Hara Anytime Scorer – 11/2 WilliamHill

Southampton V Portsmouth

Saturday, 13^th February – 12:45 GMT (ITV1)

Southampton

FA Cup Outright Odds: 150/1 VCbet

It will be nearly six years since Southampton were relegated from the Premiership and the first time the Saints will get a good crack of the whip to not only book a rare passage into the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, with their previous best effort being an FA Cup final appearance against Arsenal back in 2003 – to which they lost – but also to get one over on a hated neighbour.

29^th January, 2005 the last time Southampton claimed the bragging rights in the South Coast derby when they recorded a 2-1 victory at St. Mary’s, Saturday’s venue for this eagerly awaited clash. However, the tension has risen over the years because of length of time since these two last met in a competitive outing, which makes winning on Saturday that little bit more special. For Southampton, a side who are already enjoying cup success and have a date with Wembley already etched into their diaries – getting through to the final of the JPT – it could do wonders for their promotion bid with a win on Saturday, as it could be the push they need to get back into The Championship, and at least get into the Premiership promotion mixer.

For now, though, the only thing on the players minds will be this derby and we feel the Saints will make the most of this heated situation and rare derby day out simply because they have more home grown players in their squad. The vast majority of their squad are British which means they will know full well just how important attaining a win on Saturday will be to their loyal fans. They will appreciate this fixture a whole lot more than their opponents and won’t have any of the cash burdens that Portsmouth currently have to deal with. 

We feel Southampton are a STONKING good bet on Saturday as they will have no distractions, just positive momentum heading into this huge fixture. They arrive off the back of a sensational win in the JPT area final where they will now play Carlisle at Wembley. The mood in camp will be at its highest for some time and we feel it will take some performance from Pompey to knock the Saints off their perch. Especially with Southampton boasting most of the support in the stadium.

Portsmouth

FA Cup Outright Odds: 48/1 bWin

It’s D-Day for Portsmouth, and no, it’s not the day when the courts finally decide if Portsmouth are to go out of business but only the most heated derby on the South Coast as Pompey make the short trip across Portsmouth to face their local and hated neighbours, Southampton, at St. Mary’s.

We won’t talk about all their cash flow problems as that’s boring stuff, but more about Portsmouth’s game on Tuesday, which, had just about everything everything you could wish for from a neutral perspective. Cards, mistaken identity and some late shots which resulted in some open wounds – And we’re not on about The Bill. No, we’re talking about Portsmouth’s sensational fixture with Sunderland in midweek which featured three sending off’s, four if you count the referee sending off the wrong player before amending himself, and some late drama as Portsmouth clinched a vital point in the dying embers of the game. While the point hasn’t altered their position in the Barclay’s Premiership an awful lot, it does give the players a much needed lift in confidence after a difficult week of the pitch. 

Pompey fans will be praying their last gasp equaliser against Sunderland in midweek to be the catalyst for bigger and better things, and, more importantly, the start to a much bright future. However, with all their off-pitch problems, with Portsmouth up to their eyes in debt, that doesn’t look a likely scenario and it wouldn’t be at all surprising if the players did let all their manic happenings get to them. However, they can ill-afford to get distracted ahead of this derby encounter with the Saints as the fans will be furious if they don’t go St. Mary’s and get the win that would send them into the quarter-final draw and, in the process, give them a small boost in finances.

The problem for us is that Portsmouth are a club destined for relegation from the Premiership and they have too many off-the-field distractions to make them a worthy punt on Saturday. The players could quite easily be forgiven for letting the clubs money worries affect them, mentally, after all, it’s rare these days that the Pompey players actually get paid on time. Also, like we mentioned above in the Southampton preview, Portsmouth’s players won’t know too much about this fixture and just how important a game it is to the fans. Avram Grant, whom himself is a foreigner, is littered with non-British based players who won’t have a clue what this fixture is all about, nor probably care. You would have to feel Portsmouth will lose out in the motivation department and the form department, while their opponents are the complete opposite.

How they got here?:

Southampton

Beat Luton Town 1-0 (H)

Beat Ipswich Town 2-1 (H)

Portsmouth

Drew Coventry City 1-1 (H)

Beat Coventry City 1-2 aet (A)

Beat Sunderland 2-1 (H)

Match Verdict: Southampton to WIN – 3.00 SkyBet

The Saints should have the hunger and the drive to see off Portsmouth. Pompey do boast far more quality in their ranks, which is about right considering some are on £80,000 a week. However, in a game with so much at stake, both progression and bragging rights, we feel it’s best to have a young, British based squad as they know the importance of such a fixture. Southampton come into this game off the back of a morale boosting JPT win, a win which sends the club into a Wembley final showdown. They’ve also risen to 13^th in the table, defying a points deduction at the start of the season and have won their last seven games at home in all competitions. That’s good enough for us as we give Southampton the nod.

Match Odds:

Southampton – 3.00 SkyBet

Draw – 3.30 PaddyPower

Portsmouth – 2.62 VCbet

Football-Betting.co.uk Value Tip: Southampton to be winning at Half-Time (Half-Time Betting) – 3.55 bWin

Manchester United V Portsmouth

Saturday, 6^th February – 15:00 GMT

Manchester United

League Position: 2nd

Recent Form: DLLWL

Manchester United appear to be back to their ruthless selves and it doesn’t get any better for the current Premiership champions than a home fixture with bottom of the league, Portsmouth. A game which United are expected to dominate from start to finish, control the tempo of the game and score plenty of goals in as they’ve been finding the goal with ease of late. The Red Devils are widely renowned for their strong second-half finishes to a season and 2010, the second half of what is shaping up to be one of the tightest Premiership seasons to date, is no exception, with United winning all three of their league fixtures this year and are aiming to maintain this winning run by dishing out another beating. 

The morale in the United camp will have rocketed through the roof after their sensational display and result over the weekend. Sir Alex Ferguson was touting his sides clash at The Emirates with a in form Arsenal as one of the games of the season and the most successful manager in English history was true to his word as United swept a-side their title challengers. United did need a bit of luck to get the ball rolling when Manuel Almunia in the Arsenal goal flicked a Nani cross-come-shot into his own goal, but the Mighty Reds’ never looked back and seized on this piece of good fortune but asserting their authority. Wayne Rooney, who has been United’s shining light, not only of late but for the entire season thus far, notched up his 100^th goal in the Premier League with United’s second before Park scored their third with a phenomenal breakaway attack. Arsenal did bag a late consolation but, all-in-all, it was a fantastic day at the office for Fergie’s Man Utd and they are now huge favourites to win this game and pile more pressure on Chelsea at the top.

There are few better feelings in football than getting one over on an arch-enemy and it was United who enjoyed such a euphoric feeling on Sunday after their 3-1 victory over the Gunners. That result, on top of their two other comfortable victories in 2010; beating Burnley & Hull City 3-0 & 4-0 at home respectively, should be an ample stepping stone for a big run of form for United as the chase for the title hots up once more. United, who are hot on the heels of Chelsea, are just one point behind Chelsea in the table but do have a game less to play. However, so long as United maintain this pressure then Chelsea are a good bet to slip up at some point. Sir Alex is the master at capitalizing on others misfortunes and it’s no surprise to see many punters jumping ship and backing United for the title now.

With the exception of their away fixture at The Emirates, a game they excelled in, United have had an easy start to 2010 after home fixtures with Burnley & Hull City, with United winning both. Those two sides mentioned are both firmly in a relegation fight and now United welcome another straggler in Portsmouth… A fixture more easier on the eye than their previous easy fixtures. With Rooney & Co winning 10 of 12 home games thus far, and winning their previous four home fixtures, anything other than a comfortable United victory, complimented by a few home goals, would be a turn up for the books as this looks as straightforward a fixtures as you’ll ever see.

Portsmouth

League Position: 20th

Recent Form: LLDLL

Portsmouth could best be described as a Roundabout – Not because they’ve now had their third new owner of the season when Balram Chainrai took over the reigns but because they’ve simply drive you round the bloody bend. We could easily highlight five or six games this season where Pompey played well in a match or were the better side throughout and this was the case on Wednesday as Portsmouth, once again, played extremely well, better than expected, but still came out on the losing side. Argh!

Fortunately for us, we were on Fulham to beat Portsmouth but we’re putting ourselves into a Portsmouth’s fans shoes and we must say they’re giving us blisters. On Wednesday night, Portsmouth succumbed to their 16^th – Yes 16^th defeat of the season. That’s a ridiculous amount of losses for a side that were celebrating an FA Cup success just two years ago. The South Coast team have a 70% losing percentage in Premiership affairs this season and that looks an almost certainty to stretch further with the visit to Old Trafford this Saturday. 

During January, Younes Kaboul left the club and so did Begovic, leaving Portsmouth even lighter in numbers. However, the sale of both was the biggest indication yet, although there has been plenty, that Portsmouth are in dire straits and that they desperately need any form of cash to keep HM revenue and many others of their backs. Avram Grant can’t complain as he knew what he was getting himself into and he must now work with the few half-decent players he has left at his disposal.

To be frank and honest, Portsmouth will do well to escape Old Trafford with a respectable scoreline, such is the task at hand and the gulf in class Portsmouth have to breach. Separating Portsmouth from Man Utd is 18 league positions and 38 points. Pompey, after a thriller of a campaign (Not in a good way, mind) are rooted to the very bottom of the league and, with wholesale departures expected at the end of the season, Portsmouth look doomed already despite nearly half the season still to play. Moreover, to worsen Portsmouth Old Trafford credentials; the Sea-Siders haven’t won an away fixture since early October when they beat a less-than-impressive Wolves 1-0 at Molineux. They’ve lost six of their last seven away games in the league; conceding 11 and scoring just 2.  

The plus point, though was Portsmouth’s performance on Wednesday in that they looked dangerous in attack. Because Grant still has a physically-strong striking duo of Piquionne & Dindane, whom I thought had left the club, Portsmouth do remain a danger when in the final third. However, they will struggle to get hold of the ball in this contest and Portsmouth’s strikers may only get one chance to make a quick-fire name for themselves at Old Trafford for when the club eventually do let them go, which should be in July to ease their money problems.

Head-to-Head:

Manchester United W:8 Portsmouth W:1 Draws:1

Match Verdict: Manchester United to WIN – 1.14 SkyBet

This really could be a mammoth scoreline but one thing Portsmouth still have, even now after all the going-on’s and dramas, they have this fighting spirit, this die-hard attitude where they battle on regardless of all the clubs well publicised financial issues. I do remember when they went to Stamford Bridge a little while ago this season and gave a very good account of themselves. Perhaps should have taken a point from there. However, Portsmouth didn’t take their chances in that game and have had a issue with converting opportunities all season. United, however, will carve out plenty against a Portsmouth defence which would struggle to compete in The Championship. We expect United to score at least a couple in this contest, but Portsmouth to score, as well, could be worth a small dabble mainly because United aren’t worth the hassle.

Match Odds:

Manchester United – 1.14 SkyBet

Draw – 9.00 VCbet

Portsmouth – 25.00 SkyBet

Football-Betting.co.uk Value Pick: Both teams to score – 2.75 WilliamHill

Manchester City V Portsmouth

Sunday, 31^st January – 13:30 GMT (Sky Sports 1)

Manchester City

League Position:

Recent Form:

All eyes will be on Man City as they aim to avoid a cup hangover by beating the Premierships bottom-feeders, Portsmouth, at The City of Manchester Stadium. The defeat to Man Utd on Wednesday will be a bitter blow but they couldn’t of asked for an easier fixture to make q quick recovery in then a home fixture with Portsmouth. However, while this should be a three point banker, with even us thinking along the same lines, we mustn’t get too carried as minds could be forgiven for going astray after their midweek Carling Cup downfall.

City put their heart and soul into their two-legged tie with Manchester United in the Carling Cup in which a Wembley final date would have been their reward for success. However, despite winning the first leg, City crashed out after a poor showing at Old Trafford and the manner in which they lost, a 90^th minute Wayne Rooney header, will have hurt the players and could leave a lasting scar that could linger for weeks to come. However, some wise heads are needed to overcome this obstacle as there is still the small matter of securing Champions League football via a top four finish.

It’s so important that Mancini gets the defeat to United out of their system as they can’t afford to dwell on the disappointment. A home fixture with Portsmouth looks an ideal recovery game for them but it could be a double edged sword in that Man City may not be as motivated beforehand as they should be, or like they would have been before say a Man Utd or a Chelsea clash. This is a factor and something they need to avoid at all costs as three points would put City firmly back in the hunt for a top four finish. What is still their main objective for the season.

With the Carling Cup defeat to one side – City should be far too strong and powerful for this hapless Pompey side. They remain as one of two teams in the league yet to lose at home this season, going ten unbeaten in Manchester, and are boosted by a four match winning streak at home. Moreover, City have found scoring a breeze at home in recent outings, scoring twelve goals in this four match winning run of theirs, although they did manage just one clean sheet in the process. Still, this should be another routine win for City. If not then questions will be asked over their mental toughness as a team.

Portsmouth

League Position:

Recent Form:

Portsmouth will be hoping to capitalize on City’s recent misfortunes by adding to their woes in the league. However, perhaps Pompey are getting ahead of themselves as even as beleaguered City sides looks too strong for them, especially as Pompey’s away record this season stands in at a measly 1-2-7. Their solitary away league win seemingly came an age ago now and they require a minor miracle to double their away tally for the season at The City of Manchester.

If you want Portsmouth to win, which basically is just the small minority of Portsmouth fans out there, then you’re asking a lot. To demand a win at Man City is audacious considering they’ve failed to win at home in their last two. One being against a relegation struggler like themselves. They’ve not managed a league win in three, while their last was an impressive 2-0 home win against Liverpool, but what’s more alarming is that their only away success for the season came way back at the very beginning of October when they beat Wolves 1-0. That win is hardly frightening form for Pompey and they failed to use it efficiently, either, failing to reach the same feat since, going six away games without a win. 

There are half-a-dozen teams that can be put in a category named simply as ‘dreadful away from home’ and Portsmouth would fall into that category. In ten away outings only three times have they avoided a defeat but they have fallen to four defeats in their last five away ventures, leaving them in all sorts of problems in regards to their league predicament at the bottom. They shipped 16 goals away from home this season whilst scoring a pathetic five in return and they look a club destined for the drop it would seem and destined for another away pounding.

The plus point for Avram Grant, the Pompey manager, is the return of some of his African players; Aruna Dindane the more notable returnee, but he’s been hit n’ miss throughout the season and will do little to help their cause this Saturday.

Match Verdict: Man City to WIN – 1.30 Bet365

Anything other than a comfortable win would raise a few eyebrows, although a slip up just might be on the cards if City don’t brush their Carling Cup defeat under their carpet. It’s a lousy competition anyway as no-one cares an awful lot about it, whereas the Champions League is where it’s at these days and a win on Saturday could put them in the driving seat as they hold two games in hand over the rest. As far as this game goes, City have to win in order to keep the pressure on the top four challengers. They simply can’t afford to pass up this type of game where all three points should be a given. Their attacking prowess, aided by the return of Adebayor, should be enough to overhaul a Portsmouth side capable of capitulation in any game.

Match Odds:

Manchester City – 1.30 Bet365

Draw – 5.50 SkyBet

Portsmouth – 12.00 VCbet

Football-Betting.co.uk Value Pick: Manchester City -2 Goals (Handicap) – 3.30 PaddyPower

Portsmouth V Sunderland

Saturday, 23^rd January – 15:00 GMT

Portsmouth

FA Cup Progress: Beat Coventry City (H1-1, A1-2aet)

Portsmouth fans could desperately do with a decent run in the cup after the drab season they’ve had to put up with. With Portsmouth lying in 20^th position, rock-bottom of the league table, the fans, and even the players for that matter, could do with a fruitful FA Cup campaign just take their minds off their dire Premiership campaign thus far and the clubs current financial predicament.

Whereas the fans don’t know whether they’re coming or going in terms of seeing a good performance from the players, the Portsmouth players don’t have a clue when, or even if, they’re going to get paid, such is the financial turmoil at the club right now. We can only think of one club that’s been in a similar predicament to Portsmouth and that’s Leeds United, and we all know how that fairytale adventure ended up… in League One! Portsmouth are now a club more than capable of matching Leeds’ fall from grace if they aren’t careful but a successful run in the cup would not only lift the sprint of the fans and players but it would also bring in some extra funds… some much needed funds from what we hear.  

Our biggest concern with Portsmouth is that they haven’t played a team with Premiership quality for nearly a month now after their games with Fulham & Birmingham were both called off due to adverse weather conditions earlier in the month. Portsmouth’s only outings since December were the two games with Coventry in the last round. Moreover, Portsmouth made hard work of what should have been an easy assignment with the Championship side, Coventry City. In fact, Portsmouth were mere minutes away from being knocked out of the competition altogether before Wright put into his own net to save the skin of the Pompey players, so their form is frightening when you sit down and think about it as all they have to their name is a pair of draw with Coventry City.

Another concern, and concerns with Portsmouth are cropping up all the time nowadays, is that the players look a beaten bunch. They’ve had to put all the off-pitch issues to one side for majority of the season but this latest episode of late wage payments appears to have really gotten to the players, and it shown badly in their last proper outing at home to Arsenal. That game featured one of the worst performances from any Premiership side that we’ve ever seen. They just weren’t motivated, didn’t even look interested and they were pretty lethargic in both games with Coventry, also.

Portsmouth have shown next to nothing in their latest displays and we would advise steering well clear of them for the time being. The players have reportedly been paid since, but the damage has already been done as Pompey are now without a win in four games in all competitions. They conceded four goals in their last meeting with Premiership opposition and with this mind we couldn’t go anywhere near the South Coast side until we see a great deal of improvement from Avram Grant’s men.

Sunderland

FA Cup Progress: BEAT Barrow (H3-0)

Sunderland could also be a dangerous side to follow after their weekend antics at Stamford Bridge. The Black Cats were never fancied to do much away at Chelsea but to lose 7-2 must have had a huge adverse effect on the morale of the Sunderland players. The big defeat wasn’t all that surprising though, as Sunderland have been playing well below par for some time now and that defeat stretched their win less run to eight games in the league. Sunderland now haven’t beaten Premiership opposition since the 21^st November, when they beat Arsenal 1-0 at The Stadium of Light.

Sunderland are currently in a rut, a rut which is seriously threatening their once bright season. It seems to be an age since Sunderland last won a league game and as this run continues the players have gone more into their shells as the weeks have gone on. The positives, though, is that Sunderland have still been scoring plenty of goals, it’s just they can’t defend to save their life’s at present. For instance; in their last four games in the league, Sunderland have scored eight goals, averaging 2 goals a game. However, they’ve conceded 14 in return and haven’t kept a clean sheet since their 1-0 success at home to Arsenal, nine games ago.

The problem for Steve Bruce has been injuries to key defensive players. Nyron Nosworthy, John Mensah, Anton Ferdinand & Craig Gordon(GK) have all been absent and unavailable for selection for Steve Bruce and Sunderland’s replacements simply haven’t been up to scratch. On Saturday, Steed Malbranque deputised at left back and was carved to pieces by Joe Cole, while Andy Fulop in the Sunderland goal didn’t get anywhere near half of Chelsea’s goals. The scary thing is that none of the names listed above are available for the trip to Portsmouth so Steve Bruce may have no alternative but to name the same defensive facility that faced Chelsea in a 7-2 drubbing.

The defending was dreadful, there is no getting away from that, but what Sunderland dearly missed was that anchorman in midfield as they were getting overrun and dominated in the centre of the park. Andy Reid & Lee Cattermole were instrumental in Sunderland’s early season success, both midfielders, which seen the club record victories over Liverpool & Arsenal, but the pair have been missing for large periods ever since. Neither are available for this clash which leaves Steve Bruce scraping the barrel for suitable replacements in just about every area of the pitch, even up front now that Kenwyn Jones has expressed his desire to leave the club. It’s all going wrong for Sunderland at present but could a win change their fortunes, although God only knows how they’re going to get one.

Match Verdict: Sunderland to WIN – 2.80 Bet365

This is a game we wouldn’t even consider looking at as neither look capable of winning a game of football due to their respective predicaments. However, the fact that Sunderland are still scoring goals at will has attracted us to them as it’s just about the only positive either side can boast at present. Portsmouth look a beaten side, one resigned to relegation, while Sunderland could soon be joining them if they aren’t careful. But there is room for improvements with this Sunderland side, they just need to get some sort of defence in order. Darren bent to score as Sunderland march on.

Match Odds:

Portsmouth – 2.55 Expekt.com

Draw – 3.40 SkyBet

Sunderland – 2.80 Bet365

Football-Betting.co.uk Value Tip: Darren Bent FGS – 6.50 PaddyPower