Manchester United vs Pompey Preview

Last updated : 07 March 2008 By Jim Bonner
Almost everyone will be expecting Pompey to lose tomorrow at Old Trafford with Man United playing so well at the moment, but there are some threads of hope to cling onto as the game approaches.

Let's face it, we have rode our luck to get into the quarter-finals. Ipswich were reduced to ten men unfairly and didn't deserve to lose, Plymouth were denied a stonewall penalty at the end of the fourth round tie and we were battered by Preston in the second half, saved a penalty and then saw their player inexplicably lash the ball into his own net in stoppage time.

Fans are divided over whether the nasty FA Cup draw was karma for all the luck we have had or whether that this might really be our year. The "magic" of the FA Cup has been stronger than ever and even a club such as Manchester United have fallen victim to this in the past, just ask fans of Burton Albion and Exeter City.

If a struggling Championship team can go to Anfield and win then surely we've got a chance? We should follow Havant & Waterlooville's example and show no fear and just believe we can win. Look what it did for a bunch of part-timers, they beat a team running away with League One and took the lead at Anfield twice. If that isn't inspiration then I don't know what is.

The underdog role has suited us many times in the past and I know that we're capable of playing some really good football and taking the game to our hosts so why not believe we can get a result?

Harry Redknapp has said himself that he's going to "have a go" and it looks like we will be playing the 4-5-1 system with Kanu leading the line as Jermain Defoe is cup-tied. John Utaka should start on the right and David Nugent is still injured.

Pedro Mendes could also make the bench after recovering from ankle surgery but Franck Songo'o has been loaned out to Sheffield Wednesday and he will be a massive loss to the squad.

Alex Ferguson has an embarrassment of riches at his disposal and I expect Ronaldo and Rooney both to start the game along with Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes although just about anyone in the United squad could be picked at the moment as they're all playing extremely well.

Every Pompey fan knows that we will have to be at our very best to get a result at United and I'm sure we will need some luck too but if we can get over the psychological barrier that Old Trafford imposes, don't concede an early goal and stop Rooney and Ronaldo then we have a chance.

It's every Pompey fans dream to see the side play at Wembley. Maybe, just maybe it will come true.

Predicted Starting Line-Ups

Manchester United

GK: Edwin VAN DER SAR

RB: Wes BROWN
CB: Rio FERDINAND
CB: Nemanja VIDIC
LB: Patrice EVRA

RM: Cristiano RONALDO
CM: Paul SCHOLES
CM: Owen HARGREAVES
LM: Ryan GIGGS

CF: Louis SAHA
CF: Wayne ROONEY

Bench: Tomasz KUSZCZAK, ANDERSON, NANI, Michael CARRICK, Carlos TEVEZ

Pompey

GK: David JAMES

RB: Glen JOHNSON
CB: Sol CAMPBELL
CB: Sylvain DISTIN
LB: Hermann HREIDARSSON

RM: John UTAKA
CM: Sulley MUNTARI
CM: Lassana DIARRA
CM: Papa BOUBA DIOP
LM: Niko KRANJCAR

CF: KANU

Bench: Jamie ASHDOWN, LAUREN, Sean DAVIS, Pedro MENDES, Milan BAROS

Pundit Watch

Lawro: Home Win (2-0)
Soccernet: Home Win

My Prediction: Away Win (0-1)