Venue: Vicarage Road Time & Date: 17:20, 1st January 2011. The 2009/10 season won't be one to remember for Pompey fans. The club entered administraton and were relegated from the Premier League. Several owners came and went before Balram Chainrai regained control of the company in October 2010. Portsmouth started their first Npower Championship bow poorly with losses to Coventry, Preston, Cardiff and Crystal Palace early on but a breakout 6-1 victory over Leicester was just the tonic for Steve Cotterills troops who have sinced climbed the table. Pomey currently sit in 13th after a thrilling 3-3 draw at Leeds. The squad boasts many players with Top flight experience and proven goal scorers in Dave Nugent, Dave Kitson (Who incidently will miss through suspension) & Liam Lawrence. This one has the making of a memorable clash of two of the divisions more attacking teams. Winger Liam Lawrence boasts a fantastic record at this level. A consistent performer, Lawrence scored 14 goals as Stoke City were promoted in 2008/09. The last encounter between the two sides ended in a frustrating defeat for Watford. The Orns took a 1-2 lead before conceeding two late goals. Last Three Matches: Portsmouth 3-2 Watford Watford 4-2 Portsmouth Portsmouth 2-1 Watford Watford Team News Stephen McGinn will miss with a broken cheekbone. Danny Graham picked up a knock against Cardiff but should be right. ------------Loach----------- -Doyley-Taylor-Mariappa-Taylor- -Buckley-Eustace-Mutch-Cowie- -------Graham--Sordell------- Portsmouth Team News Dave Kitson will miss through suspension. -------------Ashdown------------- -Halford-Mokoena-Rocha-****inson- -----Lawrence--Hughes--Mullins------ -------Nugent--Kanu--Utaka-------- The Orns are in good form. Whilst Portsmouth have a strong side, I think we'll win this. Watford 2-1 Portsmouth.
I feel that a watford victory is the likely result. I was really impressed with our performance down on the south coast, we played well for the most part and got beaten by three good strikes. The way that we played yesterday and the form that we are going into this match with feels me with confidence! :xmas-smiley-022:
Let's not let the last few games lead to over confidence going into this one. They still have plenty of good players and knowing our inconsistency and leaky defence we could easily end up on the losing side. I think we'll do well but you never know. COYH!
I've said it before, and i'll say it again; that Portsmouth were able to release youth players and sign Lawrence and Kitson is outageous. I hope we stuff the *******.
Rule bending *****. Allowed to sign players on £20k/week while we have to survive on a show string, selling everyone and anyone. Hope they get liquidated.
I hate to be pessimistic but I just have a bad feeling about this game. Its just so Watford to win games against the odds and then when we expect to win, we seem to go and play badly. That being said, I really hope I'm wrong and our good run continues.
Kitson is banned for this match and Brown may well be recalled by his club. Seeing as those two were the main difference between us when we played them away, I think our chances are quite decent.
"John Eustace is in line for his 100th appearance for Watford, and keeper Scott Loach his 100th league appearance for the club."
Portsmouth may only have a 13 man squad, surprised it hasn't been mentioned by anyone on here yet. It is being reported cash-strapped Portsmouth may go into the match with a squad of just 13 due to suspension, a string of injuries and the club are reluctant to play a number of players because it will activate clauses which will cost them more money. Dave Kitson is suspended, Joel Ward is out with a back injury and goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown is doubtful with a knee problem. Despite having the smallest squad in the Football League, Pompey will refuse to play experienced duo Richard Hughes and Michael Brown as one more appearance would automatically trigger a contract extension for the pair on the same amount of money.
Fishal teams, Hornets unchanged. WATFORD: Loach; Doyley, Mariappa, M Taylor, A Taylor; Buckley, Eustace (c), Mutch, Cowie; Sordell, Graham. Subs: Gilmartin (GK), Bennett, Deeney, Jenkins, Whichelow, Massey, Thompson. PORTSMOUTH: Ashdown; Halford, Ward, Sonko, ****inson; Utaka, Mokoena (c), Mullins, Ciftci; Nugent, Kanu. Subs: Flahavan (GK), Rocha, Hreidarsson, Kilbey.
Another really top display and very encouraging for the rest of the season. Current league position is meaningless and points on the board are all that matter. Halfway point of the season for us on games played and we're 70% towards our points target so that has to be good. I thought Pompey were woeful. At times it was like playing against 10 men such was the lack of pressure on our boys in possession. Nice passing from us though, something I've not seen before from Watford so consistently game after game. Interesting stat stolen from the BBC - Danny Graham scored more goals in the Championship in 2010 than any other player. He has to be the subject of bids this month. I just hope we can hold on to him and even when he's not scoring his work rate is immense. It's imperative we hold on to Taylor and Mutch. The former is clearly enjoying himself here and is out of contract in the summer so hopefully Graham can have a word and get him to sign up. Mutch meanwhile has come on leaps and bounds and his passing was often top notch today.
Couldn't make the game but just enjoyed a superb second half in glorious HD with a few glasses of claret. Complete domination in every area of the field in the second half. I'll even forgive Lloyd's occasional panic attacks. Happy New Year indeed.
Great result and a clean sheet as well, Pompey hardly had a sniff. Lets hope Malkey and the lads can keep the momentum going and we don't lose any key players to injury or transfer. Personally I am very optimistic.
That was a really good performance along with a great result. Very impressive and encouraging. Hopefully we can keep it up. I thought everyone played their part with a good performance but I thought Mariappa, A.Taylor, Buckley, and Graham all played extremely well.
