Portsmouth vs Hereford Preview

Last updated : 25 August 2009 By Jim Bonner
Pompey will be looking for their first win of the season when Hereford United visit Fratton Park for the second round of the Carling Cup.

Team News

Paul Hart said he'll play a strong team but is likely to use some fringe players for this match so expect the likes of Begovic, Hughes, Basinas and Nugent to start along with a couple of youngsters. David James, Steve Finnan, Hermann Hreidarsson and Papa Bouba Diop are all injured.

The Bulls will be missing Marc Pugh and Lee Morris through injury but defender Ryan Valentine returns after suspension.

The Match

I assume Pompey fans will be more interested in the rumoured "huge" announcement expected around midday on Tuesday but there is some football to be played and we couldn't have asked for a kinder draw.

Hereford are yet to win a league game since relegation from League One although did claim the scalp of Charlton Athletic in the first round. John Trewick's team have nothing to lose and given our terrible start, may fancy their chances of a similar upset to their 1972 giant-killing of Newcastle United in the FA Cup.

Whilst we have higher priorities than this trophy this season, us fans shouldn't write it off as a lost cause. Last season Derby and Burnley reached the semi-finals and the latter should have been in the final. If we take this cup seriously and get some kind draws then who knows how far we could go?

On the other hand, if we lose tomorrow then it will be one of the most embarrassing results in Pompey's history so we simply cannot afford to let that happen, no matter how little we may care about the Carling Cup.

Predicted Starting Line-Ups

Portsmouth

GK: Asmir BEGOVIC

RB: Joel WARD
CB: Marc WILSON
CB: Sylvain DISTIN
LB: Nadir BELHADJ

RM: Anthony VANDEN BORRE
CM: Hayden MULLINS
CM: Richard HUGHES
LM: Matt RITCHIE

CF: David NUGENT
CF: Frederic PIQUIONNE

Hereford

GK: Adam BARTLETT

RB: Ryan GREEN
CB: Ryan VALENTINE
CB: Richard ROSE
LB: Joel EDWARDS

RM: Kenny LUNT
CM: Glen SOUTHAM
CM: Jonny GODSMARK
LM: Craig JONES

CF: Tristan PLUMMER
CF: Leon CONSTANTINE

My Prediction: We may be going through a tough time but we should still have enough to beat a side 80 places below us in the league pyramid at home.

Portsmouth 2 Hereford United 0