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Premier League Preview: Manchester City - Portsmouth
City look to recover from Cup exit against crisis club…
| Bet: | Returns: | Porto £26.00 | Draw £32.00 | Manchester City £25.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Porto £25.00 | Draw £33.00 | Manchester City £28.00 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Porto £27.50 | Draw £32.50 | Manchester City £23.75 |
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| Bet: | Returns: | Porto £25.00 | Draw £33.00 | Manchester City £28.00 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | Porto £24.50 | Draw £32.00 | Manchester City £26.50 |
|
30 Jan 2010 12:45:00
By Chris Myson
Kick-Off: Sunday, January 31, 13:30.
City of Manchester Stadium.
Manchester City welcome Portsmouth to Eastlands on Sunday in a match which sees two teams who are light years apart in terms of finances clash in the Premier League.
City are a side with seemingly unlimited financial resources at their disposal, while Pompey are moving from one crisis to another as the true extent of their troubles become clear. Just when you think it can’t get any worse for the south coast club, more problems appear.
This week alone, star defender Younes Kaboul was on the verge of becoming the latest player to leave Fratton Park, the club website went down for a spell due to an outstanding maintenance bill not being paid, chief executive Peter Storrie and manager Avram Grant reportedly considered their positions and, for a fourth occasion, the players' wages were not paid on time.
On top of those boardroom dramas, results on the pitch remain poor which means the 2008 FA Cup winners are rooted to the bottom of the table – five points from safety having won just four times in 21 matches.
City go into the game heavily deflated after the 3-1 defeat to arch-rivals Manchester United in the League Cup semi-final second leg at Old Trafford, but they still have a chance of achieving a strong season under Roberto Mancini.
As well as remaining in the FA Cup, perhaps most significantly they remain well in the running to finish in the top four and subsequently qualify for the Champions League next season. They currently trail Tottenham Hotspur by three points in the race to achieve that goal, although they have two games in hand over Harry Redknapp’s side.
City will be pleased to be back at Eastlands, where they have been exceptional this season. In the league they have picked up 24 points from a possible 30 without suffering a defeat in front of their own fans.
FORM GUIDE
Manchester City
Jan 27: Manchester United 3-1 Manchester City (League Cup)
Jan 24: Scunthorpe 2-4 Manchester City (FA Cup)
Jan 19: Manchester City 2-1 Manchester United (League Cup)
Jan 16: Everton 2-0 Manchester City
Jan 11: Manchester City 4-1 Blackburn Rovers
Portsmouth
Jan 26: Portsmouth 1-1 West Ham
Jan 23: Portsmouth 2-1 Sunderland (FA Cup)
Jan 12: Coventry 1-2 Portsmouth (FA Cup)
Jan 02: Portsmouth 1-1 Coventry (FA Cup)
Dec 30: Portsmouth 1-4 Arsenal
TEAM NEWS
Manchester City
Emmanuel Adebayor is set to return to the starting line-up having made his comeback from the substitutes' bench against Manchester United in midweek.
Wayne Bridge (knee) is also back in contention along with Kolo Toure, who has returned from the African Cup of Nations.
Possible starting XI (4-4-2): Given, Zabaleta, Toure, Kompany, Bridge; Wright-Phillips, Barry, De Jong, Bellamy; Adebayor, Tevez.
Portsmouth
Portsmouth have Jamie O'Hara back on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, and the midfielder is expected to go straight back into the team.
Fellow loan signing Quincy Owusu-Abeyie will only play if he gets international clearance in time for kick-off.
Possible starting XI (4-4-2): James, Finnan, Vanden Borre, Wilson, Hreidarsson; Basinas, Mokoena, Mullins, Boateng; Piquionne, Utaka.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Manchester City – Carlos Tevez
Carlos Tevez is on fire with his new club, having bagged 18 goals already this season – 14 of which have come in his last 12 games. It is hard to see when the Argentina striker’s rich vein of form is going to come to an end, and few would bet on a scoreless appearance against struggling Portsmouth.
Portsmouth – Kevin-Prince Boateng
Kevin-Prince Boateng has been one of Portsmouth’s better performers this season, and is their main attacking threat. The former Tottenham midfielder will need to be on top form if Pompey are to make any mark on proceedings at Eastlands.
PREDICTION
Manchester City were badly hurt by their defeat to Manchester United in midweek and will want to get back to winning ways at the first possible opportunity.
Things keep getting worse for Portsmouth at present, and it doesn’t look like there is any light at the end of the tunnel.
It is hard not to predict anything other than a comprehensive home victory.
Manchester City 3-0 Portsmouth
Kick-Off: Sunday, January 31, 13:30.
City of Manchester Stadium.
Manchester City welcome Portsmouth to Eastlands on Sunday in a match which sees two teams who are light years apart in terms of finances clash in the Premier League.
City are a side with seemingly unlimited financial resources at their disposal, while Pompey are moving from one crisis to another as the true extent of their troubles become clear. Just when you think it can’t get any worse for the south coast club, more problems appear.
This week alone, star defender Younes Kaboul was on the verge of becoming the latest player to leave Fratton Park, the club website went down for a spell due to an outstanding maintenance bill not being paid, chief executive Peter Storrie and manager Avram Grant reportedly considered their positions and, for a fourth occasion, the players' wages were not paid on time.
On top of those boardroom dramas, results on the pitch remain poor which means the 2008 FA Cup winners are rooted to the bottom of the table – five points from safety having won just four times in 21 matches.
City go into the game heavily deflated after the 3-1 defeat to arch-rivals Manchester United in the League Cup semi-final second leg at Old Trafford, but they still have a chance of achieving a strong season under Roberto Mancini.
As well as remaining in the FA Cup, perhaps most significantly they remain well in the running to finish in the top four and subsequently qualify for the Champions League next season. They currently trail Tottenham Hotspur by three points in the race to achieve that goal, although they have two games in hand over Harry Redknapp’s side.
City will be pleased to be back at Eastlands, where they have been exceptional this season. In the league they have picked up 24 points from a possible 30 without suffering a defeat in front of their own fans.
FORM GUIDE
Manchester City
Jan 27: Manchester United 3-1 Manchester City (League Cup)
Jan 24: Scunthorpe 2-4 Manchester City (FA Cup)
Jan 19: Manchester City 2-1 Manchester United (League Cup)
Jan 16: Everton 2-0 Manchester City
Jan 11: Manchester City 4-1 Blackburn Rovers
Portsmouth
Jan 26: Portsmouth 1-1 West Ham
Jan 23: Portsmouth 2-1 Sunderland (FA Cup)
Jan 12: Coventry 1-2 Portsmouth (FA Cup)
Jan 02: Portsmouth 1-1 Coventry (FA Cup)
Dec 30: Portsmouth 1-4 Arsenal
TEAM NEWS
Manchester City
Emmanuel Adebayor is set to return to the starting line-up having made his comeback from the substitutes' bench against Manchester United in midweek.
Wayne Bridge (knee) is also back in contention along with Kolo Toure, who has returned from the African Cup of Nations.
Possible starting XI (4-4-2): Given, Zabaleta, Toure, Kompany, Bridge; Wright-Phillips, Barry, De Jong, Bellamy; Adebayor, Tevez.
Portsmouth
Portsmouth have Jamie O'Hara back on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, and the midfielder is expected to go straight back into the team.
Fellow loan signing Quincy Owusu-Abeyie will only play if he gets international clearance in time for kick-off.
Possible starting XI (4-4-2): James, Finnan, Vanden Borre, Wilson, Hreidarsson; Basinas, Mokoena, Mullins, Boateng; Piquionne, Utaka.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Manchester City – Carlos Tevez
Carlos Tevez is on fire with his new club, having bagged 18 goals already this season – 14 of which have come in his last 12 games. It is hard to see when the Argentina striker’s rich vein of form is going to come to an end, and few would bet on a scoreless appearance against struggling Portsmouth.
Portsmouth – Kevin-Prince Boateng
Kevin-Prince Boateng has been one of Portsmouth’s better performers this season, and is their main attacking threat. The former Tottenham midfielder will need to be on top form if Pompey are to make any mark on proceedings at Eastlands.
PREDICTION
Manchester City were badly hurt by their defeat to Manchester United in midweek and will want to get back to winning ways at the first possible opportunity.
Things keep getting worse for Portsmouth at present, and it doesn’t look like there is any light at the end of the tunnel.
It is hard not to predict anything other than a comprehensive home victory.
Manchester City 3-0 Portsmouth
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