Rovers have strengthened their squad in the summer following the departures of annoyances Paul Dickov and Craig Bellamy. These two players have been replaced by former Pompey loanee Jason Roberts and former Pompey target Benni McCarthy, both will pose a potent threat to our goal.
Ironically Pompey "target" Ryan Nelsen will not play having just recovered from injury whilst there are doubts over energetic Steven Reid too but Rovers will have plenty of steel in their side with Savage, Todd and that Georgian bloke with the very long name. Tugay won't take part however as he is suspended.
As well all know, we also have our injury worries. Dean Kiely and Jamie Ashdown are out for while so David James will make his debut whilst youngster Nick Jordan will be on the bench. Because of our lack of left-sided players Dejan Stefanovic will play left back and Matthew Taylor will push forward into midfield. Either Pamarot, O'Brien or Primus will start alongside new signing Sol Campbell, I'm putting my money on Pamarot. Glen Johnson will also start at right back to make his Pompey debut.
Mendes, Davis and O'Neil should all start but with Lua Lua injured and Benjani struggling it looks like it's going to be Toddy and new boy Kanu up front. If Kanu wants to silence the critics already on his back, a goal will do nicely! The other of our new signings, David Thompson should start on the bench and maybe the "former player" curse can hit Blackburn on the opening day.
It's going to be a tough opener but with both sides with injuries and with us at home, I don't see us getting beaten. We are still yet to beat Blackburn at home so tommorow would be a good time to end that run. Whatever happens tommorow, we can't judge the season ahead on this one game as there is still plenty of strengthening to do for Harry. I reckon this'll be a hard fought draw.
Premiership Past: Pompey vs Blackburn Rovers
03/04: Pompey 1 Blackburn Rovers 2
We had started our debut season in the Premiership on fire and were unbeaten going into this game. However dodgy defending gifted Lucas Neill a goal whilst Andy Cole got the second. Arjan De Zeeuw pulled one back with a header in the second half but it wasn't enough as Pompey fans tasted defeat in the Premiership for the first time.
04/05: Pompey 0 Blackburn Rovers 1
Blackburn really did live up to their "bully boy" tag under Mark Hughes with their constant fouling and dirty play in this game. Referee Andy D'Urso failed to send off any of the Blackburn players and instead sent off Lomana Lua Lua for an alleged headbutt on Andy Todd. Morten Gamst Pedersen nicked a winner and to make matters worse D'Urso further endeared himself to the crowd by sending off Amdy Faye in stoppage time. Faye moved to Newcastle after however and would never be seen in a Pompey shirt again.
05/06: Pompey 2 Blackburn Rovers 2
Two excellent goals from Craig Bellamy single-handedly earned Blackburn a point at Fratton Park in a game we pretty much dominated. A strike from Lua Lua and a late Toddy header gave us a share of the spoils as we continued our run to safety.
Pundit Watch
Sky Sports: Draw (1-1)
Soccernet: Away Win (0-2)