Tottenham vs Portsmouth Preview

Last updated : 26 March 2010 By Jim Bonner
Portsmouth travel to White Hart Lane with a threadbare squad to take on Harry Redknapp's expensive team of ex-Pompey players.

Team News

The spotlight will undoubtedly be on those players who are up against their former employers tomorrow.

Ricardo Rocha, Michael Brown and Kevin-Prince Boateng all used to represent Spurs but it seems only Brown will line up against his former club. Jamie O'Hara can't play against his parent club either, whilst Tommy Smith and Nadir Belhadj are added to Avram Grant's huge injury list.

The good news for Pompey fans is that Jermain Defoe is sidelined and won't take any part in the game. However, Peter Crouch, Niko Kranjcar and Younes Kaboul could all start against the team that used to pay their sky high wage packets.

Jermaine Jenas, Aaron Lennon and Ledley King are also injured whilst Sebastien Bassong, Wilson Palacios and Roman Pavlyuchenko face fitness tests.

The Match

The midweek drubbing at Chelsea saw our pride take a bit of a battering and I fear the worst tomorrow after that result. As much as I'd like to see Pompey put a dent in Redknapp's Champions League hopes, I think all of us would happily lose this one if it meant winning at Wembley.

Both teams are short on numbers but Redknapp can count on the likes of Tom Huddlestone, Luka Modric and Eidur Gudjohnsen to fill the gaps whereas we have to fill the gaps with Aaron Mokoena, Richard Hughes and Danny Webber.

Still, if there are crumbs of hope to take before this game then you can point to the fact that Spurs were beaten by Wolves and held to a draw by Hull at White Hart Lane.

But I'm expecting a heavy defeat after Wednesday, so I hope that Pompey's squad players can prove me wrong.

Predicted Starting Line-Ups

Tottenham

GK: Heurelho GOMES

RB: Younes KABOUL
CB: Michael DAWSON
CB: Sebastien BASSONG
LB: Gareth BALE

RM: Luka MODRIC
CM: Tom HUDDLESTONE
CM: Wilson PALACIOS
LM: Niko KRANJCAR

CF: Eidur GUDJOHNSEN
CF: Peter CROUCH

Pompey

GK: David JAMES

RB: Hayden MULLINS
CB: Hermann HREIDARSSON
CB: Marc WILSON
LB: Steve FINNAN

DM: Aaron MOKOENA
CM: Richard HUGHES
CM: Angelos BASINAS
AM: KANU

CF: Frederic PIQUIONNE
CF: Danny WEBBER

Last Time: Tottenham Hotspur 1 Portsmouth 1

David Nugent scored his first Premier League goal to give Pompey the lead against Harry Redknapp who was facing his former side for the first time.

Jermain Defoe predictably equalised and celebrated like he'd just scored the winner in the World Cup Final, and then Darren Bent missed a glorious header which Redknapp claimed his "wife could have scored". Tony Adams' side become the first Pompey team to pick up a point at White Hart Lane since promotion.

Pundit Watch

Lawro: Home Win (2-0)
Sky Sports: Home Win (3-0)
Soccernet: Home Win

My Prediction: As much as I'd love a result here, the FA Cup Semi-Final is far more important for us and with the squad Avram will be forced to field out tomorrow, I can only see a drubbing I'm afraid.

Tottenham Hotspur 3 Portsmouth 0