 |
Site
Channels |
|
Match Preview: Portsmouth Vs Newcastle United
Match Info:
| Kick-Off:
Saturday October 1st 3.00pm |
| Venue:
Fratton Park |
Match Preview By Ally
Campbell (30 September 2005)
I can’t remember the last time I wrote a match preview with a positive
spin to it, but at the moment I feel obliged to! Two league wins in
a row for the first time in ages has put us in the top half of the,
albeit a meaningless league table at the moment, but the signs are
looking good.
Our injured midfield stars are slowly returning, Owen is scoring and
N’Zogbia is getting us all off our seats – can’t complain! We head
to Fratton Park hopefully full of confidence against a struggling
team whose manager is desperate for a win to save his job.
Knowing our lot they’ll probably beat us, but they shouldn’t do. Portsmouth
hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for us in the past but they’re
going to be missing Robert and Lua-Lua, arguably their two most creative
players so the signs are good.
Injuries/suspensions
Kieron Dyer has a chance of playing this one, but I imagine he’ll
be on the bench. Souness seems to have learnt his lesson and isn’t
going to risk the lads until they are 100% fit, and if that means
waiting another week and then getting a season out of them then so
be it.
Emre and Solano aren’t ready yet and Luque is a while off being fit.
Taylor returns from suspension and hopefully will slot back in at
centre half. Personally I’d drop Boumsong as he’s been awful recently
but I think the boss with either keep the same defence as last week
or drop Bramble.
United squad:
Ameobi, Babayaro, Boumsong, Bowyer, Bramble, Carr, Clark, Dyer, Elliott,
Faye, Given, Harper, N'Zogbia, Owen, Parker, Shearer, Taylor
For Pompey ex-Toon pair Robert and Lua Lua are both out. Robert of
course can't play in this fixture because of an agreement between
the two club's following his loan switch to Fratton Park where as
Lua Lua has Malaria!
Portsmouth Squad:
Ashdown, Priske, Stefanovic, O'Brien, Vignal, Taylor, Hughes, Diao,
O'Neil, Silva, Karadas, Todorov, Westerveld, Griffin, Skopelitis,
Songo'o.
How should we approach this game?
Attacking Portsmouth is the best approach for us, and hopefully the
only one in Souness’ mind. It’ll be a tricky game, most games are,
but we’re a better team than they are and are full of confidence.
Michael Owen was excellent on Saturday and should have scored more
than he did, but the signs are good and he is looking sharper and
fitter.
He really must be the pivot of our attacking play, the ball needs
to be on the ground for him to run at defenders, long balls up to
him are no use whatsoever. Ex Mag Andy O’Brien will be at centre half
for Pompey and we know all about him, run at him and he’ll panic.
Lee Clark was another one to have a good game last week, and the passion
and commitment he puts in is second to none. When we signed him I
was skeptical that we’d just signed him for sentimental reasons, but
he’s surprised me over the past two games. He looked inventive and
at times threatening, and whilst he won’t get in the team when we’re
at full strength, I’d rather have him there than Jenas prancing around.
We need to use the flanks more still, and with N’Zogbia in form on
the left we’ve got no excuses. Give the ball to him to run at Griffin.
He’ll probably take a few kicks as we know ‘Griff’ likes to, but he’s
got the skill to get past him and get balls in the box for Owen &
Shearer. He’s getting national recognition for his performances which
can only boost his confidence, keep it up!
Key Players
Newcastle:
In the form he’s in it has to be Michael Owen again. I don’t mean
to make us sound like a one man team (which we probably are!) but
we need our star striker to be putting them away each week. If he’s
injured or out of form then we will look a bit flat and one dimensional.
If I were a betting man I’d put a couple of quid on him getting 20
goals this season.
Pompey:
Portsmouth have struggled this season, and with, in my view, their
two best players unavailable its hard to choose one here. I’ll go
with Gary O’Neil though. Despite all the foreigners that have arrived
on the south coast, O’Neil has impressed be over the past couple of
seasons for both Portsmouth and the U21s. Keep an eye on him
Verdict
I doubt it will be an entertaining game, but I think we’ll win 2-1,
with goals from Owen and Bowyer. If we can continue this run by the
time the injured lads come back then we’ll be flying. Howay the lads!
Likely Lineup
Referee: Steve Bennett (Orpington)
Orpington oaf Steve Bennett has been named as the match referee for
next week's match away to Portsmouth. Bennett of course sent off Jermain
Jenas on the opening day of the season at Highbury and awarded Arsenal
a very dubious penalty after Ljunberg kicked his heel and fell over.
Pre-Match Reaction: Graeme Souness
"We will see the ex-players there and I will shake hands with them
if I get the opportunity, but for the 90 minutes of the game I'll
not be wishing them too much luck.
"Whoever plays for Portsmouth will be a threat. We'll give them the
utmost respect and we have to match their effort."
"I want to have a smile on my face, but it will be a hard game."
Pre-Match Reaction: Alain Perrin
"We need points for the team, supporters and club as a whole.
"Newcastle have Alan Shearer and Michael Owen and will be a handful
but we have to put our minds on the job in hand and try to get something
from it.
"We've put a lot of emphasis on players getting in on the end of crosses
as our problem has been scoring goals."
Portsmouth Vs Newcastle Head To Head
| Comp |
Portsmouth
Wins |
Draws |
Newcastle
Wins |
| League |
19 |
15 |
24 |
| FA
Cup |
0 |
0 |
2 |
| Total |
19 |
15 |
26 |
|
|
|
Toon
Shirts |
|
Sponsors |
|
