Portsmouth vs Reading Preview

Last updated : 15 August 2011 By Jim Bonner

Pompey take on Reading tomorrow looking to banish the misery of the first two home defeats of the season.

Team News

Benjani should at least be on the bench tomorrow but may well be handed a homecoming debut. Jason Pearce is also finally available after a three match suspension and is expected to start but whom he'll replace is anyone's guess.

Jay Tabb is available for Reading after serving a ban of his own whilst Shaun Cummings, Marcus Williams and Simon Church are also fit again.

The Match

It's only three games into the season and already there are fans who are calling for Steve Cotterill's head after two dire defeats at home that produced more yellow cards than genuine chances on goal. That doesn't bode well going into this match against tough opposition.

Despite the doom and gloom clouds beginning to form over Fratton Park there are a couple of rays of light shining through that Pompey fans can look to.

I'm especially looking forward to seeing Jason Pearce play. Given that Ricardo Rocha was on the bench on Saturday, it seems (already) like he has fallen out of favour with Steve Cotterill and it will be the former Bournemouth man who will partner Greg Halford at centre back.

Surely everyone will be intrigued how Benjani will perform now he has come back to Portsmouth. He's not quite fit yet by his own admission but I think he will start tomorrow evening up front on his own with Lawrence and Varney supporting him from the flanks.

Whatever team Cotterill selects, it's fair to say that the fans who turn up tomorrow will want to see some good football played instead of the aggressive, nip-and-tuck games that we saw against Barnet and Brighton.

Despite that, a victory is more important whether it be by hook or crook. I don't want to be travelling to Bristol on Saturday thinking it's going to be a "relegation six-pointer" already.

It will be difficult to keep Reading quiet, though. Shane Long may have departed for West Brom but it seems like Noel Hunt and Mathieu Manset have picked up where he left off.

I also feel our full backs are in for a torrid time against the quick feet and trickery of Jimmy Kebe and Jobi McAnuff. However, the full backs are probably also the Royals' big weakness with Ian Harte and old boy Andy Griffin there for the taking.

This result of this game will probably depend on the confidence of both sides. Should Pompey fail to get off to a good start then there's the fear that Reading will begin to take control and our players will get frustrated, start picking up bookings and make errors that will ultimately cost us the game.

A win here may just silence the naysayers temporarily. Should Pompey fall to a third straight defeat then those calls for Steve Cotterill to leave will be much louder.

Predicted Starting Line-Ups

Pompey

GK: Jamie ASHDOWN

RB: Tal BEN-HAIM

CB: Jason PEARCE

CB: Greg HALFORD

LB: Hermann HREIDARSSON

CM: Joel WARD

CM: Hayden MULLINS

CM: David NORRIS

RWF: Liam LAWRENCE

LWF: Luke VARNEY

CF: BENJANI

Reading

GK: Adam FEDERCI

RB: Andy GRIFFIN

CB: Bongani KHUMALO

CB: Alex PEARCE

LB: Ian HARTE

RM: Jimmy KEBE

CM: Mikele LEIGERTWOOD

CM: Jem KARACAN

LM: Jobi McANUFF

CF: Mathieu MANSET

CF: Noel HUNT

Last Time: Portsmouth 1 Reading 1 (Championship - 14/08/2010)

Pompey took the lead in their opening home game of last season thanks to a deflected strike from Nadir Ciftci. It looked like the home side would hold out for the win but Jimmy Kebe poked the ball home after a goalmouth scramble four minutes from time.

Click here for Fratton Faithful Reading Championship Profile

My Prediction

I really hope the new faces can freshen things up and Benjani can grab a goal on his second coming. Reading always seem to struggle when they come down here and although that will probably mean nothing tomorrow night, I think this will be a draw with maybe a red card or two.

Portsmouth 1 Reading 1