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Premier League Preview: Sunderland - Portsmouth
Pompey keen to end testing week on a high.
Dec 11, 2009 1:54:53 PM
Kick-off: Saturday, December 12, 2009 - 15:00 GMT
Stadium of Light, Sunderland
Portsmouth travel to the Stadium of Light to take on Sunderland on Saturday knowing that a victory will be a huge boost for the club as they look to stave off the threat of Premier League relegation following a turbulent week off the pitch.
Reports have suggested that the Fratton Park club are on the brink of administration and, to make matters worse, they may be forced to sell key players that are part of an already depleted squad.
If Pompey fans were hoping for a reprieve in the form of three points, Steve Bruce's Sunderland will certainly be in no mood for niceties as they look to improve on a season that has promised so much but ultimately failed to live up to the manager's high expectations.
While the Black Cats have hardly been an irresistible force on their travels thus far this term, they do boast an impressive home record, having lost only once in the league at the Stadium of Light, while Portsmouth have won once away from Fratton Park, managing a mere three goals in total.
Having invested a substantial amount of money on the likes of Darren Bent, Lorik Cana, Michael Turner and Lee Cattermole, the Sunderland faithful will surely be hoping for more than just mid-table mediocrity come the end of the season.
FORM GUIDE
Sunderland
6 Dec: Fulham 1-0 Sunderland (Premier League)
28 Nov: Wigan Athletic 1-0 Sunderland (Premier League)
21 Nov: Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal (Premier League)
7 Nov: Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Sunderland (Premier League)
31 Oct: Sunderland 2-2 West Ham United (Premier League)
Portsmouth
5 Dec: Portsmouth 2-0 Burnley (Premier League)
1 Dec: Portsmouth 2-4 Aston Villa (League Cup)
28 Nov: Portsmouth 1-4 Manchester United (Premier League)
22 Nov: Stoke City 1-0 Portsmouth (Premier League)
7 Nov: Blackburn Rovers 3-1 Portsmouth (Premier League)
TEAM NEWS
Sunderland
The Black Cats head into this weekend's fixture with a number of defensive problems as Anton Ferdinand (ankle) and John Mensah (calf) will definitely miss out.
Left-back George McCartney is also struggling with a hamstring problem and Phil Bardsley and Kieran Richardson will both be unavailable as they serve one-match bans.
Scotland international Craig Gordon remains a long-term casualty as he continues to nurse the broken arm he picked up against Tottenham Hotspur.
Possible starting XI: Fulop; McCartney, Turner, Da Silva, Nosworthy; Reid, Henderson, Cana, Malbranque; Bent, Jones.
Portsmouth
England goalkeeper David James should return to the starting XI having recovered from a calf injury and Younes Kaboul is also back in contention having served his one-match ban.
Papa Bouba Diop could be in line to make his first appearance since August following a hamstring problem.
Possible starting XI: James; Hreidarsson, Wilson, Kaboul, Finnan; Brown, O'Hara, Boateng, Yebda; Dindane, Smith.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Sunderland – Kenwyne Jones
The name of one Sunderland striker has been on everyone's lips thus far this season – and it hasn't been that of the towering Trinidad & Tobago international. While Darren Bent has been stealing all the headlines, Jones has steadily been going about his business and has already notched six league goals this season.
Having returned against Fulham last weekend following a recent suspension, Jones will be desperate to reignite his partnership with Bent as he looks to score his first goal since October.
Portsmouth – Aruna Dindane
Dindane has certainly had his fair share of sceptics at this early stage of his Portsmouth career, but the Ivory Coast international is looking a decent coup having joined the club on-loan from French side Lens in the summer.
The 29-year-old's ability to score goals could be the difference between relegation and survival for the Fratton Park outfit this term and if he can continue to find the net, he'll undoubtedly become a hit with the Pompey fans who are thus far unconvinced of his talents.
PREDICTION
Portsmouth came out on top in their proverbial 'must-win' encounter with Burnley last weekend and while three more points could potentially drag them off the foot of the table, home advantage should give Sunderland the edge.
Sunderland 3–1 Portsmouth
Stephen Darwin, Goal.com
For more news on England, visit Goal.com's England section!
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