Portsmouth vs Everton Preview

Last updated : 25 September 2009 By Jim Bonner
Sylvain Distin returns to the club he left not long ago as Pompey aim to avoid losing their first seven Premier League games in a row.

Team News

Paul Hart is likely to name a mixture of the side that beat Carlisle on Tuesday and the side that got beaten by Villa on Saturday.

Steve Finnan could make his debut and Aruna Dindane may make his first league appearance for Pompey although there are doubts over his knee.

David Moyes may hand a debut to Lucas Neill and although Sylvain Distin is certain to play against his former club, Yakubu is expected to start on the bench with Louis Saha playing up front on his own.

The Match

This game has come at the worst possible time for us.

Pompey are in complete turmoil both on and off the field whilst Everton have put their rocky start to the season behind them and have won their last three games heavily, albeit against weak opposition.

There is some belief that this game may be Paul Hart's last if he fails to win it. He walked out of a media interview yesterday so the pressure is certainly telling, with some bookies suspending bets on Gordon Strachan replacing him.

With the fortunes of both sides in complete contrast, I can only see one winner of this game but this is football and if Everton don't show the right attitude then we may pinch a result.

Don't bet on it though (bet on Hart getting sacked instead).

Predicted Starting Line-Ups

Pompey

GK: David JAMES

RB: Anthony VANDEN BORRE
CB: Younes KABOUL
CB: Tal BEN-HAIM
LB: Nadir BELHADJ

DM: Aarom MOKOENA
CM: Michael BROWN
CM: Jamie O'HARA
AM: Kevin-Prince BOATENG

CF: Frederic PIQUIONNE
CF: Aruna DINDANE

Everton

GK: Tim HOWARD

RB: Jonny HEITINGA
CB: Sylvain DISTIN
CB: Joseph YOBO
LB: Leighton BAINES

RM: Leon OSMAN
CM: Jack RODWELL
CM: Marouane FELLAINI
LM: Stephen PIENAAR

AM: Tim CAHILL

CF: Louis SAHA

Last Time: Portsmouth 2 Everton 1

Leighton Baines gave Everton an early lead with a cracking free kick but two Peter Crouch headers turned the game on its head and Pompey held on to do the double over the Toffees and secure three vital points.

Pundit Watch

Lawro: Draw (1-1)
Sky Sports: Away Win (1-3)
Soccernet: Away Win

My Prediction: It doesn't look good, does it? My only hope is that our players will give their best in the face of adversity. But I don't think we'll be good enough to cope with the Toffees tomorrow.

Portsmouth 1 Everton 2