RSS
ATOM
advertisement
League Cup Preview: Portsmouth - Aston Villa
Pompey looking to reach semi finals for first time but face a tough test…
| Bet: | Returns: | Aston Villa £48.00 | Draw £36.00 | Manchester City £17.00 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | Aston Villa £46.00 | Draw £35.00 | Manchester City £16.20 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | Aston Villa £50.00 | Draw £36.00 | Manchester City £17.27 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | Aston Villa £55.00 | Draw £36.00 | Manchester City £16.70 |
|
| Bet: | Returns: | Aston Villa £46.50 | Draw £34.50 | Manchester City £16.90 |
|
Nov 30, 2009 6:41:18 PM
By Ollie Irish
For relegation-threatened Portsmouth, this League Cup quarter final represents a welcome opportunity for the club's players and supporters alike to forget about their troubles in the Premier League. And for new manager Avram Grant, it's certainly a more winnable fixture than his first match in charge, against Manchester United on Saturday (which Pompey lost 4-1).
Portsmouth have never reached the last four in the League Cup, and are looking to get past the quarter finals at the fifth time of asking.
Aston Villa, meanwhile, have a fine record in the perceived lesser of England's cup competitions. They have lifted the trophy five times, their last victory coming in 1996 against Leeds United at the old Wembley Stadium.
An away tie should suit Villa, who like to soak up pressure and counter-attack at pace. And with penalty specialist Brad Guzan in goal, if the game goes to penalties, Martin O'Neill's side will fancy their chances of spot-kick success.
FORM GUIDE
Portsmouth
Nov 28: Portsmouth 1-4 Man Utd (Premier League)
Nov 22: Stoke 1-0 Portsmouth (Premier League)
Nov 7: Blackburn 3-1 Portsmouth (Premier League)
Oct 31: Portsmouth 4-0 Wigan (Premier League)
Oct 27: Portsmouth 4-0 Stoke (League Cup)
Aston Villa
Nov 28: Aston Villa 1-1 Tottenham (Premier League)
Nov 21: Burnley 1-1 Aston Villa (Premier League)
Nov 7: Aston Villa 5-1 Bolton (Premier League)
Nov 4: West Ham 2-1 Aston Villa (Premier League)
Oct 31: Everton 1-1 Aston Villa (Premier League)
TEAM NEWS
Portsmouth
New boss Avram Grant must make do without Jamie O'Hara, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Mike Williamson and Tommy Smith, who are all cup-tied.
Aston Villa
Nigel Reo-Coker picked up an ankle injury against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday and is very doubtful for Tuesday's game.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Portsmouth - Frederic Piquionne
The French striker scored two goals for Pompey against Stoke in the last round of the League Cup and is in line for another start in this quarter final. He has failed to convince in the Premier League but this is a competition he seems to enjoy, and it would be no surprise to see him get on the score sheet again.
Aston Villa - Emile Heskey
Like Piquionne, Heskey has struggled to make his mark in the Premier League this season. It's been a different story with Fabio Capello's England, though, as the Italian manager seems to rate Heskey very highly. A good showing at Fratton Park could be just the confidence boost the Englishman clearly needs in claret-and-blue.
PREDICTION
Portsmouth 2-2 Aston Villa (Villa to win on penalties)
Tuesday, December 1, Kick-off: 19:45 GMT
Fratton Park, Portsmouth
Fratton Park, Portsmouth
For relegation-threatened Portsmouth, this League Cup quarter final represents a welcome opportunity for the club's players and supporters alike to forget about their troubles in the Premier League. And for new manager Avram Grant, it's certainly a more winnable fixture than his first match in charge, against Manchester United on Saturday (which Pompey lost 4-1).
Portsmouth have never reached the last four in the League Cup, and are looking to get past the quarter finals at the fifth time of asking.
Aston Villa, meanwhile, have a fine record in the perceived lesser of England's cup competitions. They have lifted the trophy five times, their last victory coming in 1996 against Leeds United at the old Wembley Stadium.
An away tie should suit Villa, who like to soak up pressure and counter-attack at pace. And with penalty specialist Brad Guzan in goal, if the game goes to penalties, Martin O'Neill's side will fancy their chances of spot-kick success.
FORM GUIDE
Portsmouth
Nov 28: Portsmouth 1-4 Man Utd (Premier League)
Nov 22: Stoke 1-0 Portsmouth (Premier League)
Nov 7: Blackburn 3-1 Portsmouth (Premier League)
Oct 31: Portsmouth 4-0 Wigan (Premier League)
Oct 27: Portsmouth 4-0 Stoke (League Cup)
Aston Villa
Nov 28: Aston Villa 1-1 Tottenham (Premier League)
Nov 21: Burnley 1-1 Aston Villa (Premier League)
Nov 7: Aston Villa 5-1 Bolton (Premier League)
Nov 4: West Ham 2-1 Aston Villa (Premier League)
Oct 31: Everton 1-1 Aston Villa (Premier League)
TEAM NEWS
Portsmouth
New boss Avram Grant must make do without Jamie O'Hara, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Mike Williamson and Tommy Smith, who are all cup-tied.
Goalkeeper David James (calf) and full-back Steve Finnan (groin) are again injury doubts.
Last starting XI in League Cup (v Stoke): Ashdown, Kaboul, Vanden Borre, Belhadj, Mullins, Brown, Yebda, Wilson, Piquionne, Webber, Dindane.Aston Villa
Nigel Reo-Coker picked up an ankle injury against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday and is very doubtful for Tuesday's game.
Left-back Stephen Warnock missed the Spurs game because of illness and is also unlikely to start.
Last starting XI in League Cup (v Sunderland): Guzan, Dunne, Cuellar, Warnock, Collins, Young, Milner, Petrov, Reo-Coker, Agbonlahor, Heskey.PLAYERS TO WATCH
Portsmouth - Frederic Piquionne
The French striker scored two goals for Pompey against Stoke in the last round of the League Cup and is in line for another start in this quarter final. He has failed to convince in the Premier League but this is a competition he seems to enjoy, and it would be no surprise to see him get on the score sheet again.
Aston Villa - Emile Heskey
Like Piquionne, Heskey has struggled to make his mark in the Premier League this season. It's been a different story with Fabio Capello's England, though, as the Italian manager seems to rate Heskey very highly. A good showing at Fratton Park could be just the confidence boost the Englishman clearly needs in claret-and-blue.
PREDICTION
Portsmouth 2-2 Aston Villa (Villa to win on penalties)
| Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £100 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up with Paddy Power for a free bet up to £50 |
|
Thank you for your comment!
Please enter your name
Please enter your location
Please share your comment!
1 Comments
Advertisement
Inside Goal.Com
-
Fabio Capello & FA differ on public perception
The governing body played the populist game and lost a manager who still had English football's best interests at heart but would not accept responsibility without command
-
The top 20 clubs in football's money league
Deloitte's annual publication of the richest sides in football sees a familiar Spanish duo stretch their advantage over England's finest in 2010-11
-
How Capello's exit will affect England's players
As the national team enters a new era, we take a look at the players who are now destined for big things and those potentially heading for the scrapheap under a new boss
-
Cartoon: Redknapp sentenced to England service
Goal.com cartoonist Omar Momani gives us his unique take on the football news of the day ...
-
The list of clubs that could try to sign Capello
Now that the Italian is no longer the England head coach, it is likely that a number of high-profile clubs from across Europe and elsewhere will make an attempt to lure him
Advertisement
Advertisement
