Stoke City v Portsmouth Preview

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On Saturday, Stoke will play what is without question the most important match of season to date, with Portsmouth visiting the Britannia Stadium. While Portsmouth sit fifteenth in the Premier League table, three points and two places ahead of Stoke, both clubs have to be considered as real relegation candidates as the season draws towards its close. A win for Stoke could mean afour-pointcushion would open between the club and the bottom three, while keeping Portsmouth right in the relegation mix, while a Pompey win would give a huge boost to their survival chances, and send the Potters back into the depths of the relegation zone. Portsmouth began the season reasonably brightly under then manager Harry Redknapp, with form in both the league and Europe suggesting the recent good times at the club would keep on rolling for another season. In mid-October however, disaster struck for the club, with Redknapp, who had just been awarded the freedom of the city following last Mays FA Cup triumph, leaving to take up the vacant managerial position at Tottenham. His succe sor was soon appointed, Redknapps a sistant Tony Adams being given the main job, but a desperate run of form seeing the club not win in ten games, not helped by the sale of the sides best players in La sana Diarra and Jermain Defoe, saw Adams sacked two weeks ago. Though a new permanent manager is yet to be named, experienced coach Paul Hart, whohas previouslymanaged Nottingham Forest and Barnsely, has been put in temporary charge. Already things seem to be looking up for the South coast club, as Harts first game, at home to Manchester City last weekend produced a 2-0 win for Pompey. Hart is well tipped to get the job on a more permanent basis, buthopefully Stoke can put a dent in his prospects with another home victory on Saturday.The managerial merry-go-round has been in full turn at Fratton Park of late, with Harry Redknapp, Tony Adams and Paul Hart all taking charge of the club Rory Delap and Matthew Samson Ebukam Jersey Etherington, who are both suspended following dismi sals for petulant offences in the games against Manchester City and Sunderland respectively, will mi s the game for Stoke. This leaves both the wing positions vacant, meaning Liam Lawrence could start his first league game since September on the right hand side, while theleft is likely to be filled either by Richard Cre swell, who works hard, or Henri Camara, who though primarily a striker can also do a job on the wing. Full-backs Danny Higginbotham and Stephen Kelly are doubts with calf and hamstring injuries and Ricardo Fuller is definitely out after dislocating his shoulder, while most importantly, talismanic target-man Mamady Sidibe is fit to play for Stoke after mi sing more than two months after hyper-extending his knee against Fulham on December 13th. Given his importance to the side and the way we play, it seems very likely that Sidibe will play from the start alongside James Beattie.Sidibes return is a major boost for Stoke Hart has no new injury worries in his squad ahead of the visit to the Potteries, with Hermann Hreidar son, who has scored in each of Portsmouths last two games, expected to shake off a virus in time to start. Long- Greg Gaines Jersey term casualties Richard Hughes, Papa Bouba Diop and on-loan Arsenal left-back Armand Traore all remain sidelines though and will mi s the match.Key Battles:Mamady Sidibe v Sol CampbellWith a combined height of twelve feet and six inches, Sidibe and Campbell will be involved in a crucial battle for aerial supremacy. Stoke have mi sed the hold-up play and heading prowe s that Sidibe offers during his injury absence and will hope he makes an instant impact with a good display on his return. Ryan Shawcro s v Peter CrouchEarlier this week, 21 year old Stoke centre-back Shawcro s revealed that he has grown two inches in the last year, taking his height to total of 65. Those extra inches should come in handy as he faces up against Portsmouths top scorer Crouch who stands alanky 67. Crouch scored a stunning bicycle kick in Portsmouths 2-1 win in the reverse fixture in October, and England Under 21 man Shawcro s will be keen to keep him in check to avoid a repeat outcome. Danny Pugh v Jermaine PennantPugh is likely to continue at left-back for Stoke, and although he is sometimes caught out in the position, he is in my opinion the best option we have. Hell come up against on loan Liverpool man Pennant on the right wing wholl be keento impre s against the club he almost joined in the summer. Portsmouth Squad:Goalkeepers: David James (38), Jamie Ashdown (28), Asmir Begovic (21)Defenders: Sol Campbell (34), Sylvain Distin (31), Glen Johnson (24), Younes Kaboul (23), Hermann Hreidar son (34), Noe Pamarot (29), Armand Traore (19), Lauren (32), Martin Craine (22), Linvoy Primus (35)Midfielders: Sean Davis (29), Hayden Mullins (29), Papa Bouba Diop (31), Jermaine Pennant (26), Niko Kranjcar (24), Richard Hughes (29), Angelos Basinas (33), Marc Wilson (21), Glen Little (33), Arnold Mvuemba (24), Jerome Thomas (25), Vitor Gomes Pele (21)Forwards: Peter Crouch (28), David Nugent (23), John Utaka (27), Nwankwo Kanu (32), Theofanis Gekas (28)Star Man: Peter CrouchCrouch, who turned 28 last month, is the tallest outfield player in the Premier League at 67, but surprisingly few of his goals come with his head. Fitting perfectly with the clich of having good feet, for a big man, the majority of his thirteen strikes this season have come form good finishes with he ball on the ground or from well struck shots. Crouch began his career at Tottenham as a teenager, before moving to Queens Park Rangers in the year 2000 and then to Portsmouth in 2001, Brandon Allen Jersey where he scored ten times in 42 league games before moving to Aston Villa a year later. Yet another move followed in 2004 when he returned to the Southcoast with Portsmouths arch rivals Southampton, before a 7 million switch to Liverpool in 2005. He enjoyed some of the best times of his career at Anfield, but after falling out of favour with manager Rafael Benitez, he was tempted back for a second spell at Portsmouth last summer for an undisclosed fee. He has 31 full England caps to his name, scoring fourteen goals meaning his scoring record is somewhat better at international rather than club level. He is also the tallest ever man to represent England.Comparative Club Stats:Stoke PortsmouthLeague Position:17th 15thGoals Scored: 2840Goals Conceded: 45 57Home Record: (W,D,L)7,4,4 7,4,8Away Record: (W,D,L)1,3,10 3,5,9Clean Sheets: 710Failed to Score: 1012Form:LWLLDL WLLLLDTop Scorer: Fuller (6) Crouch (13)
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