New boss Avram Grant will be handed a baptism of fire as he takes charge of Premier League strugglers Portsmouth for the first time against champions Manchester United. Pompey have won just two of their first 13 games to prop up the table but have a good recent record against United, whose manager Sir Alex Ferguson will be forced to watch from the stands as he starts a two-match touchline ban.
Quick Check
Portsmouth
- Midfielder Papa Bouba Diop is hoping for a recall after a seven-week injury lay-off.
- Full back Steve Finnan could return after a two-match absence with an abdominal problem.
- Portsmouth have won three of their last five meetings with United at Fratton Park.
- New boss Avram Grant will take charge of his first game after Paul Hart was sacked in midweek.
- England goalkeeper David James is out for another fortnight with a calf strain.
- Pompey have won only one home game this season.
- Paul Hart‘s team has scored only ten goals in 13 Premier League matches – with four of them coming against Wigan in the last home game.
Manchester United
- Defender Gary Neville is available again after a three-match ban.
- John O’Shea is expected to overcome a thigh strain to start.
- Dimitar Berbatov amd Ji-sung Park are also hoping to make their comebacks from injury.
- United are bidding for a fourth successive victory over Pompey in the Premier League.
- 19 of United’s 26 league goals this season have come in the second half.
- Centre back Rio Ferdinand is still sidelined by calf and back injuries.
- Defender Jonny Evans is also an injury doubt.
- Boss Sir Alex Ferguson will be absent from the dugout as he starts a two-game touchline ban.
Expert Advice
Portsmouth became the first Premier League club to sack their manager in midweek and they will be hoping installing Avram Grant as Paul Hart’s successor will have an immediate effect at Fratton Park. Grant came within the width of a post of beating United in the 2008 Champions League Final when he was in charge of Chelsea and won’t be afraid of taking on the champions, but whether he has the same sort of talent at his disposal to plot their downfall is another matter. Pompey did win their last home game 4-0 but United are a different proposition to Wigan and will be desperate for victory themselves if they are not to lose further ground on leaders Chelsea. With Rio Ferdinand still absent, the visitor’s defence is more fragile than usual but they should still win comfortably and we suggest Betsson’s odds of 2.00 for a United win by two goals as a sound bet.
Bet it!
2. Link to the article in your blog post.
3. Go to twingly.com/ping and paste the URL to your blog post
Done! After a minute or so a link to your blog post will appear on Topleague.co.uk
