- Jul 27, 2004
- 24,868
- 11,368
- Staff
- #1
[SIZE=-2](thanks to .... for the banner)[/SIZE]
Hopefully we can build on the result at Newcastle and travel to Pompey in the hope that the previous performance is the foundation of some decent form. In better news one of our 3 win away from home in the league last season came at Fratton Park so more of the same is in order today.
The Official Site Team News:
Michael Dawson has returned to full training after recovering from a hamstring injury.
The centre-back was forced to sit out our matches against Wigan Athletic and Newcastle United with the problem.
Gareth Bale is a doubt after suffering a foot injury during our Carling Cup Third Round victory at St James Park in midweek, while Alan Hutton (foot) remains out.
Skysports.com Preview:
Tottenham will be keen to get their Premier League campaign up and running against Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Sunday.
Juande Ramos' side have been the biggest disappointments so far in the new season after failing to taste success from five league outings.
However, the North Londoners did pick up a morale-boosting Carling Cup success over crisis club Newcastle United on Wednesday.
Portsmouth's form has nose-dived over the past week after following up their 6-0 mauling at the hands of Manchester City with a 4-0 Carling Cup drubbing at home by Chelsea.
The omens are good for the visitors on Sunday with Spurs having won six of their last seven meetings with the South Coast outfit along with keeping two clean sheets in last season's fixtures.
Midfield concerns
Pompey boss Harry Redknapp's main cause of concern this weekend is his midfield options with a number of first-team regulars unavailable.
Midfield terrier Lassana Diarra is set to miss his second consecutive fixture with the knock he took to the outside of the knee at Eastlands last Sunday.
That means Richard Hughes should retain his midfield berth with the likes of Sean Davis (groin), Papa Bouba Diop (hamstring), Niko Kranjcar (ankle) and Jerome Thomas (back) all out.
Jermain Defoe is likely to be recalled alongside Peter Crouch, although Kanu could come into contention following a 21-minute cameo against Chelsea.
Sol Campbell should return to the heart of Portsmouth's defence to partner Sylvain Distain with Younes Kaboul possibility reverting to a more unfamiliar midfield role.
Changes
Ramos, like Redknapp, is set to make changes from his midweek Carling Cup team. Darren Bent is likely to be recalled and he could partner Roman Pavlyuchenko who opened his Spurs account at St James' Park.
David Bentley will also be hoping to find himself back in Spurs' starting XI, although he is yet to produce the form that saw him break into the England fold with Blackburn.
However, Aaron Lennon and Gareth Bale impressed in right and left wing berths respectively on Wednesday and could retain their places with Didier Zokora and Jermaine Jenas staying in the middle.
Ramos is likely to keep his back four intact with Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Vedran Corluka the full-backs with Jonathan Woodgate and Ledley King protecting through the middle.
Possible starting XIs
Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Traore, Utaka, Hughes, Kaboul, Belhadj, Crouch, Defoe.
Spurs: Gomes, Corluka, Woodgate, King, Assou-Ekotto, Lennon, Jenas, Zokora, Bale, Pavlyuchenko, Bent.
BBC Match Squads (take with a pinch of salt):
Tottenham Squad (from): Gomes, Bale, Zokora, Bentley, Huddlestone, Lennon, Jenas, Pavlyuchenko, Bent, Gilberto, Modric, Gunter, Giovani, Dawson, Corluka, O'Hara, King, Assou-Ekotto, Woodgate, Cesar, Campbell.
Squad (from): James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Belhadj, Utaka, Diarra, Hughes, A Traore, Crouch, Defoe, Kaboul, Pamarot, Mvuemba, Little, Kanu, Sahar, Hreidarsson, Nugent, Ashdown.
Interesting Stats:
Us
Gained just two points out of 15 this season.
Lost four of a last winless six Premier League games since beating Reading 0-1 at the Madejski on 3 May, their only maximum in 12 outings.
On the longest current run in the Premier League of 12 matches without scoring more than a single goal in a game, since the 2-0 home win over Portsmouth on 22 March.
Picked up half as many points as gained by this stage last season, when they had four after five.
Yet to take the lead in a Premier League game this season.
Won 10 of 32 Premier League games under Juande Ramos.
Them
Lost seven of the last nine Premier League matches.
Averaging a goal a game (five in five).
Trailing at half-time in 80% of their league outings this term (four of five).
Defeat to Spurs was one of their four home losses in the Premier League last season.
Gained a first home league win in six months in the last game at Fratton Park; 2-1 against Middlesbrough on 13 September.
The victory over the Teesside club ended a three-game losing streak at home, and was their first goals in five in front of the home faithful.
3
Right, that's enough fuel for this fixture, don't forget to check [thread=36827]Geez's Media Coverage Thread[/thread] for watching and listening options.
COME ON YOU SPURS!
[SIZE=-4]Lots of information courtesy of the BBC and SkySports[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-4]Don't forget to head over to SC's live chat during the game. For more info click the links below.[/SIZE]
http://www.spurscommunity.co.uk/index.php?page=sc_chat
http://embed.mibbit.com/?server=irc...ity&settings=8f877fda3b59f0190c39e4e1e0db2551
[SIZE=-4]Lots of information courtesy of the BBC and SkySports[/SIZE]
[SIZE=-4]Don't forget to head over to SC's live chat during the game. For more info click the links below.[/SIZE]
http://www.spurscommunity.co.uk/index.php?page=sc_chat
http://embed.mibbit.com/?server=irc...ity&settings=8f877fda3b59f0190c39e4e1e0db2551
