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Portsmouth vs Sheffield United Preview - Fratton Faithful

 

Portsmouth vs Sheffield United Preview

Last updated : 19 April 2013 By Jim Bonner

Pompey welcome promotion chasing Sheffield United to Fratton Park for the final home fixture of what has been another difficult season.

Team News

Ricardo Rocha faces a fitness test ahead of the match but otherwise Guy Whittingham is likely to stick with the same side that fell to the late defeat at Brentford on Saturday after admitting he will not play youngsters despite Pompey's official relegation.

Dave Kitson will return to Fratton Park to play against his former employers for the first time since leaving Portsmouth in the summer. Barry Robson and Jonathan Forte are pushing for recalls to the side but Danny Maguire is banned after a red card against Brentford on Tuesday.

The Match

The Trust has now officially bought the club for what might be Pompey's biggest gate of the season and there should now be a party atmosphere at Fratton Park despite relegation.

The Pompey fans have shown their support for this team despite another relegation and some tough times this season. To be fair, Guy, Andy and the current crop of players deserve some praise for their efforts this season and you have to wonder where our club would be if this lot had been here from the start rather than Michael Appleton and his mercenaries.

Still, it would nice to bow out on a high and not suffer the humiliation of finishing bottom of League One by winning the remaining two games of the season.

This one got more difficult after the inept Danny Wilson was sacked recently and replaced by Chris Morgan for the rest of the campaign. The Blades will be desperate for points to try and finish in the automatic promotion places and have some very good players at this level.

It would be of no surprise to anyone if Kitson scored but Chris Porter also poses a goal threat. Hopefully Rocha will return to the side and keep the defence calm after their captiulation last week.

Whatever happens, this should be a celebration of a better future ahead. Hopefully there'll be a result to go with it.

Predicted Starting Line-Ups

Pompey

GK: Simon EASTWOOD

RB: Yassin MOUTAOUAKIL

CB: Sam SODJE

CB: Gabor GYEPES

LB: Dan BUTLER

RM: Shaun COOPER

CM: Johnny ERTL

CM: Therry RACON

LM: Jed WALLACE

CF: Patrick AGYEMANG

CF: David CONNOLLY

Sheffield United

GK: George LONG

RB: Tony McMAHON

CB: Danny HIGGINBOTHAM

CB: Neill COLLINS

LB: Matt HILL

RM: Ryan FLYNN

CM: Michael DOYLE

CM: Kevin McDONALD

LM: Jamie MURPHY

CF: Dave KITSON

CF: Chris PORTER

Last Time: Portsmouth 1 Sheffield United 0 (Championship - 05/03/2010)

Hermann Hreidarsson bundled in the winner in this instantly forgettable encounter.

My Prediction

United will need the points more but Pompey have turned Fratton Park into a fortress recently and the spoils are likely to be shared.

Portsmouth 1 Sheffield United 1