Portsmouth vs Wolves Preview

Last updated : 30 April 2010 By Jim Bonner
Pompey take on Wolves in the last home game of Pompey's seven year stay in the Premier League looking to bow out on a high.

Team News

Kevin-Prince Boateng should return to the Pompey team and Steve Finnan could well join him. Nadir Belhadj and Jamie O'Hara are still out with injuries whilst Hassan Yebda and Papa Bouba Diop are also nursing slight knocks and could miss out.

Mick McCarthy will start winger Geoffrey Mujangi Bia for the first time this season now Wolves have secured their Premier League status. He will replace Stephen Ward who is injured whilst Karl Henry is available after a three match ban.

The Match

Pompey fans will wave goodbye to the top flight as Fratton Park hosts its final Premier League fixture for the forseeable future. Without a win since the triumph at Wembley, the team need a victory to boost form ahead of the FA Cup Final.

Wolves will arrive knowing that they, unlike us, will be staying in the Premier League for another year and it wouldn't surprise me to see a few of their players turn up in "holiday mode" now that their job is done.

I'm expecting the players to put up a good fight in front of the home fans after last week's comeback at Bolton. Wolves should prove a stern test as they have only been beaten once in their last eight games, but are also seeking their first win in six.

I don't care about the result too much as although a win will certainly boost confidence, the most important thing is to avoid any injuries to key players ahead of May 15th.

I simply want to enjoy our last home game in the top flight as it could be a long time before we ever get back there. I expect many other fans will feel the same and there will be a good atmosphere at Fratton Park tomorrow.

We should celebrate the fact that little old Pompey came up seven years ago with low expectations and since then have become the top club on the South Coast, have won the FA Cup and have played in Europe. That's no mean feat for a club who were tipped to go straight back down by many back in 2003.

Let's get behind the lads one more time before one of the biggest games in the club's history. Play Up Pompey!

Predicted Starting Line-Ups

Pompey

GK: David JAMES

RB: Anthony VANDEN BORRE
CB: Aaron MOKOENA
CB: Ricardo ROCHA
LB: Lennard SOWAH

DM: Marc WILSON
CM: Michael BROWN
CM: Richard HUGHES
AM: Kevin-Prince BOATENG

CF: Frederic PIQUIONNE
CF: Aruna DINDANE

Wolves

GK: Marcus HAHNEMANN

RB: George ELOKOBI
CB: Jody CRADDOCK
CB: Christophe BERRA
LB: Ronald ZUBAR

RM: Kevin FOLEY
CM: David JONES
CM: David EDWARDS
CM: Karl HENRY
LM: Geoffrey Mujangi BIA

CF: Kevin DOYLE

Last Time: Portsmouth 0 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0

The last time these two teams met at Fratton Park was in the Premier League in 2003. Teddy Sheringham came closest to scoring in this stalemate but 'keeper Paul Jones would not be denied a clean sheet.

Pundit Watch

Lawro: Away Win (1-2)
Sky Sports: Draw (1-1)
Soccernet: Away Win

My Prediction: It's our last Premier League game at Fratton Park against a side I think we are capable of beating. I think we'll win and the home fans will be sent home happy as the players prepare for Wembley in the best possible way.

Portsmouth 2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1