Portsmouth vs Hull Preview

Last updated : 03 February 2012 By Jim Bonner

Pompey welcome Hull City to Fratton Park tomorrow for what may be the penultimate home game of the club's existence.

Team News

Michael Appleton is set to name the same side that thrashed Peterborough last week as David Norris is still suspended and both Aaron Mokoena and Luke Varney are still injured.

Nick Barmby can welcome back midfielder Robbie Brady to the Hull side after his absence during the Tigers' goalless draw at home to lowly Doncaster during the week.

The Match

Following such a fantastic win at Peterborough last week and a transfer window that didn't see the expected fire sale take place, Pompey fans will turn up to Fratton Park in relatively high spirits tomorrow.

Hopefully the fans will "pack the park" now that the ridiculous £2 surcharge has been dropped for fans that pay on the day along with the "kids for a quid" and bargain family ticket offers that the club should really be doing better to promote.

However many people turn up, they can expect to be treated to a fairly good game of football.

'Appy's football philosophy is starting to take its effect on the team now with players performing more effectively in certain positions and the defence playing the ball from the back rather than aimlessly hoofing it back to the opposition.

On the same note, Hull have been playing some good football since Nick Barmby took over from Nigel Pearson and his team should prove a stern test given that they're currently 6th in the Championship and have one of the meanest defences in the division.

However, the Tigers have had a couple of bad results as they failed to score against lowly Doncaster on Tuesday and were knocked out of the FA Cup by League Two side Crawley Town on their own ground on Saturday.

Therefore, there is plenty of hope that Pompey can win this game and put even more distance between themselves and the bottom three in preparation for a possible points deduction in the future.

Because the long-term future currently holds little hope for us, so we may as well enjoy the present as much as we can.

Predicted Starting Line-Ups

Pompey

GK: Stephen HENDERSON

RB: Tal BEN-HAIM

CB: Jason PEARCE

CB: Ricardo ROCHA

LB: Greg HALFORD

RM: Kelvin ETUHU

CM: Joel WARD

CM: Hayden MULLINS

LM: Liam LAWRENCE

SS: Erik HUSEKLEPP

CF: Marko FUTACS

Hull

GK: Vito MANNONE

RB: Andy DAWSON

CB: James CHESTER

CB: Jack HOBBS

LB: Liam ROSENIOR

RM: Robert KOREN

CM: Robbie BRADY

CM: Seyi OLOFINJANA

LM: Cameron STEWART

CF: Aaron McLEAN

CF: Matty FRYATT

Last Time: Portsmouth 2 Hull City 3 (Championship - 03/01/2011)

After dominating the first half, Pompey fell behind when Halford felled Stewart in the box with Jimmy Bullard converting the resultng penalty. Liam Lawrence then scored a spot kick of his own in the second half to restore parity.

Pompey pushed forward but were hit with a double-suckerpunch as Fryatt and Barmby took advantage of slack defending to put the Tigers 3-1 up. Halford headed in a corner with 15 minutes to go but the home side couldn't find an equaliser.

Click here for the Fratton Faithful Hull City Championship Profile Page.

My Prediction

There will be torrid times ahead with Paul Jewell running his mouth about taking our players on loan nex week, not to mention more tough fixtures to come this month before the winding-up hearing.

I think our lads will edge what should be a tough game and get some payback for the result at the KC Stadium earlier in the season.

Portsmouth 1 Hull City 0