Pompey make what is quite a short trip for them to Craven Cottage to face a Fulham side in a mini form loss patch.
Vital Quotes:
Not far to travel, just as well really, you know what Pompey are like at paying bills right now, and that is the only issue you can find about Pompey right now.
The papers don’t mention the football anymore, the football hour on the Quay don’t talk about football anymore, in fact I don’t talk about football anymore! Just bloody debt!
The only quotes you will get out of Avram Grant right now are ones explaining his disgust and despondency over promises made to him when he decided to step into the miracle worker shoes, the transfer window was only available to him for 4 or 5 days, and even then he could only tempt in a couple of loanees, everyone else ran scared of a club bottom of the league, and bottom of the credit ratings.
Fulham Team News:
Fulham are in the middle of an injury crisis, Shorey and Okaka may have been bought in to bulk up the numbers, but this has been tempered by injuries to Gera, Johnson, Konchesky, Davis, Dempsey and Pantsil, all would have played some part normally and will be missed.
Player to watch: Zamora
I don’t think he has had a goalscoring run like this year since his Brighton days, but ever since the Fulham faithful turned on him a little the goals started to flow again. 11 so far, and with second top scorer Dempsey the onus will be on him.
Potless Pompey Team News:
Pompey have had the heart ripped out of their defence with both Kaboul and Begovic departing last week, James has stepped back in between the posts, but only last week Bego was having his best game for Pompey, Ben Haim has replaced Kaboul, but the fan’s favourite will take some replacing.
Pompey are boosted somewhat by a return of their African contingent, Belhadj may step straight back in along with Yebda, while Dindane has also returned after appearing to be in the departure lounge.
Brown is joined in the physio’s room by Hreidarsson after his achilles injury.
Player to watch: Boateng
He is the last of our ‘stars’ and to be honest has played quite pony so far this year, needs to start putting in some improvement now he knows he is here until May.
Match Facts & Stats
Zamora scored with arse at Fratton to give us out first defeat in a run of 7.
Ref Watch:
Daniel Azougy (why not? seems to have a hand in everything we do these days)
Match Prediction:
How about a lovely win to cheer us up Pompey? Anyone agree? If so say so here.
Next Fixtures:
A trip up North somewhere inhospitable.