Tottenham Hotspur Match Preview 11

Match Preview: Portsmouth v Tottenham Hotspur

Fratton Park, Frogmore Road, Portsmouth

Saturday 17th October 2009, Kick Off 15:00

Premier League, Match 9

Portsmouth: 20th in Premier League, 3 points from 24

Tottenham Hotspur: 3rd in Premier League, 16 points from 24

Referee: Phil Dowd

Assistant referees: Mike Bull & Mark Scholes

Fourth official: Andrew Penn

COMMENT:

Spurs make the trip south to Portsmouth for the first game after the international break with 16 points in the bag after the first 8 Premier League matches - a new club record. Both sides can look back with some satisfaction on their last games - Portsmouth picking-up their first win and points of the season away to Wolves while Spurs managed a draw at Bolton, which is always a tricky place to get anything.

The ties between Portsmouth and Spurs have grown stronger recently with the transfer of so many players between the clubs and Harry Redknapp's switch. Spurs have former Portsmouth players Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch and Niko Kranjcar while Portsmouth have former Spurs players Younes Kaboul, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Michael Brown and Jamie O'Hara (who won't be involved on Saturday) on loan until January 2010.

Last season under Juande Ramos, Spurs lost 2-0 at Portsmouth with the return match at White Hart Lane resulting in a 1-1 draw in January. In 2007-08, Spurs did the "double" over Portsmouth, winning 1-0 (Berbatov) away in December and 2-0 (Bent, O'Hara) at home in March.

Spurs will be looking to win maximum points from this match and the next home game against Stoke City before playing the first North London Derby of the season at the Emirates at the end of the month, but Portsmouth have been playing some decent football recently which belies their lowly League position.

TEAM NEWS:

Portsmouth's David James is fit after sitting out England's match with Belarus with a knee problem. Midfielder Jamie O'Hara is unavailable as part of his loan deal with Spurs, so Aaron Mokoena could return. Diop, Hughes and Hreidarsson are all sidelined with hamstring injuries.

Jonathan Woodgate will not make his return at Portsmouth on Saturday. The central defender was back in full training this week after a lengthy spell on the sidelines suffering from a groin problem. He came through a practice match at Spurs Lodge on Tuesday but boss Harry reported on Friday afternoon that he's not quite ready for a competitive return.

"Woody's trained well this week but he's not quite ready, he's a week away yet," said Harry. "We'll fix up another practice match, he'll get a game in there and that will do him a world of good. "He could then be back in contention." Good news sees Ledley King return after picking up a hamstring injury at Chelsea on September 20. "Ledley's trained and worked hard," said Harry. "He played a half in the practice game this week and did a bit this morning and came through it okay. He should be fit."

However, Wilson Palacios looks unlikely to figure at Fratton Park as he will not return from international duty with Honduras until Saturday morning. Harry explained: "Wilson's due back at six o'clock and will come straight to the team hotel but it's difficult to start him after all that travelling." Luka Modric (fractured fibula) and Giovani dos Santos (ankle) continue their rehabilitation.

HARRY REDKNAPP ON PORTSMOUTH:

Harry Redknapp believes Portsmouth have been written off too early. Harry's former team kicked-off the season with seven straight defeats to languish at the bottom of the Barclays Premier League. The general opinion though was that the team was unlucky in a number of those games and they finally got off the mark with a 1-0 win at Wolves last time out. Despite that run, there is still only four points between Pompey and a number of clubs on seven points from Birmingham in 14th and Hull down to 18th.

"Portsmouth are a decent team and I've said that all along," stated Harry. "I don't think they will go down. "People wrote them off too early and I just feel that they've got a bit about them. They will be okay. I think they will come through this period. "They have some good players and I think they will stay up." Harry will be at the centre of attention as he returns to Fratton Park alongside former Pompey players Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch and Niko Kranjcar.

On the other side, meanwhile, are former Spurs Younes Kaboul, Kevin-Prince Boateng and Michael Brown. Jamie O'Hara is also on loan at Fratton Park but will not be able to play under the terms of that loan deal. "They have former Tottenham players there who will want to do well against us - Boateng and Younes, who I signed for Portsmouth," added Harry. "Kevin has had a run and is showing his ability. I never had a problem with him, it was just difficult to pick him every week at Spurs with the likes of Wilson, Tom, JJ, Zokora last year and Jamie as well."

MICHAEL DAWSON ON PAUL HART:

Michael Dawson will come up against the man who gave him his big break in the game on Saturday. Paul Hart, now manager of Portsmouth, brought the defender through the youth system at Nottingham Forest and gave him his senior debut at the age of 18 in April, 2002. The same goes for Jermaine Jenas at Forest and Jonathan Woodgate, who Hart brought through the Academy at Leeds United. 'Daws' went on to make 91 first team appearances at Forest before his switch to Spurs in January, 2005. "Paul was in charge of the youth scheme at Forest and signed me as a 14-year-old," reflected the popular defender. "When I was 16 he was Under-19s manager and I remember playing under him for just over a year before he got the first team job.

"At the end of my second year as a full-time scholar, he gave me the chance to make my first team debut. The way he coached and his discipline was unbelievable and the amount of players he's developed shows he's a top coach. He certainly taught me a few things about the game. He was tough and he can certainly give out a few rollockings, I can tell you. Your standards had to be of the highest order every day in training, and he certainly let you know if they weren't."

Michael, now 25, is looking forward to meeting his former boss again as we travel to Fratton Park for another important match in the Barclays Premier League."I've not seen Paul for a long while, since he left Forest," added Daws. "I was disappointed to see him go then so it will be good to see him again. In my first full year as a first team player at Forest he took us to the play-off semi-finals but after that the club sold a few players and, unfortunately for him, results didn't go for him. But the way he had us playing during that first season meant a lot of top clubs were talking about him, and now he's managing in the Premier League. I'm sure he's enjoying it, although I'm sure he would like a few more points on the board, and he's certainly doing his best."

TOM HUDDLESTONE ON PORTSMOUTH:

Tom Huddlestone admits it's probably not the best time to face Portsmouth - but is confident we can go and win at Fratton Park on Saturday. Pompey ended a run of seven straight defeats in the Barclays Premier League with a 1-0 win at Wolves last time out.

The club has since been taken over and former Chelsea boss Avram Grant has returned to Fratton Park as Director of Football having previously been Technical Director between 2006-07.

Tom takes that all into account when assessing the fixture. "They've played well in their last few games and maybe have been a bit unlucky to lose them, but they won their last game and they will be full of confidence," he stated. "They've just been taken over as well so I'm sure the whole club will be lifted. "It's never an easy place to go anyway and it's probably not the ideal time to play them but we know regardless of who we play, if we're on form then we can beat anyone."

Tom watched Pompey's early kick-off against Everton on September 26 and was impressed with the former - and current - Spurs players in the Pompey side. Kevin-Prince Boateng moved to Fratton Park on a full transfer in August - joining ex-Spurs Younes Kaboul and Michael Brown - while Jamie O'Hara is there on loan until January."Kevin and Jaime seemed to be at the focal point of everything they did against Everton," said Tom. "Kevin didn't have too many opportunities at Tottenham but you could see in training that he had real quality.

"Jamie was a bit unlucky at the start of the season with how well the team started because day in, day out he's one of the best trainers. "The manager has said he wants him back in January and that has to be a good sign. "The main thing for Jamie is that he wants to play football regularly and he's doing that now in the Premier League."

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• In last season's meeting at Fratton Park, the goals were scored by then Portsmouth strikers Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch in a 2-0 win for the South Coast side. Defoe actually scored in both games last season, once as a Portsmouth player and once in a Spurs shirt.

• Both teams have three former players potentially lining up against them - Portsmouth's Younes Kaboul, Michael Brown and Kevin Prince Boateng and Tottenham's Defoe, Crouch and Niko Kranjcar.

• Portsmouth have beaten Spurs just once in their last nine encounters.

• Portsmouth and Tottenham have played each other 50 times in all competitions. Portsmouth have won 13 times, Tottenham 20 and there have been 17 draws.

Portsmouth

• Pompey have scored the fewest amount of goals (four) in the Premier League this season. Three out of their four strikes have been headers.

• Portsmouth have the worst shooting accuracy in the Premier League, hitting the target with just 32 percent of their efforts.

• 69 percent of the goals Portsmouth have conceded have come before half-time - the highest proportion in the top division.

Tottenham Hotspur

• Only Burnley (56) and Hull City (55) have allowed the opposition more shots on target against them than Spurs (52).

• Spurs have kept only one clean sheet in their last 15 Premier League away trips.

• Harry Redknapp will complete a full Premier League season of 38 games in charge of Spurs on Saturday (the first match he was officially in charge of was against Arsenal on 29 October 2008). His record is 18 wins, eight draws and 11 defeats (62 points).

LEADING GOALSCORERS

Portsmouth: Kaboul: 2 goals (2 league)

Tottenham Hotspur: Defoe: 6 goals (5 league); Keane: 6 goals (5 league)

MARK LAWRENSON'S PREDICTION (BBC):

I hope Harry Redknapp gets the reception he deserves at Portsmouth - and that is an extremely good one because of what he did for that club. He got them out of the Championship, brought in brilliant players (all of whom were sold for a profit) and won the FA Cup. He got out when he saw the writing on the wall and you can't blame him. I just hope a few mindless idiots don't ruin the day. On the pitch, I reckon Pompey will pick up a point - and it'll be a great help for Paul Hart to have Avram Grant's experience with him from now on.

Verdict: Portsmouth 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur

PREVIOUS MEETINGS:

Saturday afternoon's match will be the 105th meeting between Tottenham Hotspur and Portsmouth.

Here are the results of all the previous 104 games with Spurs' score shown first:

18-Sep-1899

S&D Comb Lge

4,000

2 - 0

Cameron, Kirwan

25-Dec-1899

Southern Lge

14,000

3 - 0

Pratt, Copeland, Kirwan

17-Jan-1900

S&D Comb Lge

4,000

2 - 2

Smith, Pratt

03-Mar-00

Southern Lge

7,000

0 - 1

03-Nov-00

Friendly

3 - 1

Cameron, Brown, Kirwan

17-Nov-00

Western Lge

5,000

8 - 1

McNaught (2) Jones AE, Morris, Brown (2), Cameron, Kirwan

25-Dec-00

Southern Lge

12,000

4 - 1

Smith, Brown, Jones JL, Kirwan

17-Apr-01

Western Lge

0 - 1

24-Apr-01

Southern Lge

3,000

0 - 4

16-Nov-01

Western Lge

16,000

1 - 3

Brown

25-Dec-01

Southern Lge

14,000

1 - 2

Cameron

17-Mar-02

Western Lge

4,000

0 - 0

31-Mar-02

Southern Lge

13,400

0 - 1

30-Apr-02

Friendly

2 - 0

Barlow, Copeland

08-Nov-02

Western Lge

11,000

0 - 0

29-Nov-02

Western Lge

9,000

2 - 2

Barlow (2)

25-Dec-02

Southern Lge

23,000

2 - 2

Dryburgh,Warner

13-Apr-03

Southern Lge

12,000

0 - 2

31-Oct-03

Western Lge

3 - 0

Woodward (2), Copeland

25-Dec-03

Southern Lge

20,000

1 - 1

Jones J. (pen)

27-Feb-04

Western Lge

12,000

1 - 1

Walton

04-Apr-04

Southern Lge

11,000

0 - 1

22-Oct-04

Western Lge

15,000

0 - 1

27-Dec-04

Southern Lge

28,000

1 - 1

Woodward

17-Apr-05

Western Lge

0 - 1

24-Apr-05

Southern Lge

10,000

2 - 3

Bull, Chapman

28-Oct-05

Western Lge

0 - 0

25-Dec-05

Southern Lge

33,000

3 - 1

Chapman, Kyle, Carrick

03-Mar-06

Western Lge

6,000

1 - 1

Kyle

16-Apr-06

Southern Lge

12,000

0 - 1

03-Nov-06

Southern Lge

20,000

1 - 1

Reid

07-Nov-06

Western Lge

4,000

0 - 1

26-Nov-06

Western Lge

8,000

4 - 2

Brearley, Hewitt (pen), Walton (2)

09-Mar-07

Southern Lge

12,000

1 - 3

Woodward

26-Oct-07

Southern Lge

10,000

2 - 1

Seeburg (2)

06-Apr-08

Southern Lge

6,000

2 - 3

Middlemiss, Phillips og

16-Dec-16

London Comb

2,000

1 - 0

Abandoned (Scorer: Banks)

17-Feb-17

London Comb

5,000

4 - 2

Bliss (4)

31-Mar-17

London Comb

2,000

10 - 0

Elliott, Bassett, Banks (5), Thwaites (2), Hulme og

10-Apr-17

London Comb

2,000

2 - 1

Walden, Middlemiss

17-Sep-27

Division 1

26,115

0 - 3

19-Mar-28

Division 1

12,829

0 - 3

14-Oct-33

Division 1

25,679

1 - 0

O'Callaghan

24-Feb-34

Division 1

26,921

0 - 0

27-Oct-34

Division 1

33,461

4 - 1

Bolan, Howe, Hunt GS (2)

09-Mar-35

Division 1

11,687

1 - 1

Evans W (pen)

16-Jan-37

F.A. Cup 3

32,665

5 - 0

Morrison (3), Duncan, Miller

16-Mar-40

FL South C

7,000

2 - 1

Duncan, Dix

11-May-40

FL South C

5,301

4 - 1

Morrison (3), Medley

26-Oct-40

Reg Lge Sth

1,351

1 - 2

Howe

15-Nov-41

London WarLge

6,095

2 - 1

Ludford, Broadis

21-Feb-42

London WarLge

4,813

1 - 1

Gibbons

24-Oct-42

Football Lge Sth

8,500

0 - 1

30-Jan-43

Football Lge Sth

7,146

5 - 2

Beasley, Gibbons, Ludford (3)

26-Feb-44

LgeSth Cup S2

15,224

1 - 0

Rowley

18-Mar-44

LgeSth Cup S2

15,000

2 - 1

Rowley (2)

16-Sep-44

Football Lge Sth

14,167

1 - 1

Walters

30-Dec-44

Football Lge Sth

15,000

0 - 0

06-Apr-46

Football Lge Sth

22,000

1 - 0

Medley

13-Apr-46

Football Lge Sth

23,000

2 - 0

Foreman (2)

04-Nov-50

Division 1

66,402

5 - 1

Walters, Duquemin, Baily (3)

24-Mar-51

Division 1

49,716

1 - 1

Uphill

24-Nov-51

Division 1

46,815

0 - 2

12-Apr-52

Division 1

66,988

3 - 1

Duquemin, Baily (2)

08-Nov-52

Division 1

40,462

1 - 2

Uphill

28-Mar-53

Division 1

38,636

3 - 3

Duquemin (2), Harmer

25-Dec-53

Division 1

36,502

1 - 1

Brooks

26-Dec-53

Division 1

36,677

1 - 1

Walters

18-Sep-54

Division 1

37,404

1 - 1

McClellan

05-Feb-55

Division 1

27,539

3 - 0

Gavin (2), Duquemin

29-Oct-55

Division 1

26,018

1 - 4

Robb

10-Mar-56

Division 1

44,314

1 - 1

Smith R

03-Nov-56

Division 1

31,903

3 - 2

Smith R, Brooks, Wilson og

16-Mar-57

Division 1

36,110

2 - 0

Smith R, Mansell og

28-Aug-57

Division 1

33,479

1 - 5

Smith R

04-Sep-57

Division 1

35,813

3 - 5

Harmer (pen), Brooks, Dulin

04-Oct-58

Division 1

26,402

1 - 1

Stokes

21-Feb-59

Division 1

27,237

4 - 4

Smith R (2), Clayton, Jones (pen)

02-Feb-63

Friendly

3 - 2

Mackay, Medwin, Greaves

18-Feb-67

F.A. Cup 4

57,910

3 - 1

Greaves, Gilzean (2)

07-Aug-74

Friendly

2 - 0

Jones, Neighbour

30-Jul-80

Friendly

2 - 1

Hughton, Falco

09-Aug-83

Friendly

3 - 1

Roberts, Galvin, Mabbutt

20-Nov-85

League Cup 4

28,619

0 - 0

27-Nov-85

League Cup 4 Replay

28,100

0 - 0

10-Dec-85

League Cup 4 2nd Replay

26,306

0 - 1

04-Nov-87

Division 1

15,302

0 - 0

02-Apr-88

Division 1

18,616

0 - 1

16-Feb-91

F.A. Cup 5

26,049

2 - 1

Gascoigne (2)

10-Aug-92

Friendly

10,929

2 - 4

Samways (2)

09-May-99

Friendly/Test

6,775

2 - 4

Iversen, Anderton

25-Jly-2001

Friendly

15,144

5 - 2

Sheringham, Iversen, Clemence, Rebrov (2)

26-Dec-03

FA Prem

20,078

0 - 2

07-Feb-04

FA Prem

36,107

4 - 3

Defoe, Keane (2), Poyet

18-Oct-04

FA Prem

20,121

0 - 1

05-Feb-05

FA Prem

36,105

3 - 1

Mido (2), Keane

13-Aug-05

FA Prem

20,215

2 - 0

Griffin og, Defoe

10-Dec-05

FA Prem

36,141

3 - 1

King, Mido (pen), Defoe

01-Oct-06

FA Prem

36,063

2 - 1

Murphy, Defoe (pen)

01-Jan-07

FA Prem

20,194

1 - 1

Malbranque

15-Dec-07

FA Prem

20,520

1 - 0

Berbatov

22-Mar-08

FA Prem

35,998

2 - 0

Bent, O'Hara

28-Sep-08

FA Prem

20,352

0 - 2

18-Jan-09

FA Prem

36,011

1 - 1

Defoe

17-Oct-09

FA Prem

27-Mar-10

FA Prem

LAST TIME WE MET...

Tottenham Hotspur 1-1 Portsmouth

18th January 2009, Premier League, White Hart Lane

Jermain Defoe scored against his old club to earn Tottenham a point that lifts them out of the Premier League relegation zone on goal difference.

Portsmouth keeper David James, who made a series of superb stops, denied Aaron Lennon seconds before David Nugent put Pompey in front with a deflected shot.

But Luka Modric set up Defoe to drill home an equaliser soon after, and Spurs pushed forward in search of a winner.

Darren Bent should have won it for Spurs but headed wide from close range.

Although a draw does little to improve the prospects of either side, it was probably the fairest outcome from a frenetic encounter that lived up to its pre-match billing on and off the pitch.

The police took action after former Tottenham defender Sol Campbell was subjected to abuse from a section of Spurs supporters when these sides met at Fratton Park in September but he was not given much respite on his return to his former club.

There was no repeat of the chant that led to accusations of racism and homophobia but Tottenham fans have clearly still not forgiven Campbell for joining Arsenal in 2001 and the hostile reception he received contributed to a heated early atmosphere at White Hart Lane.

Although Spurs boss Harry Redknapp escaped any retribution from visiting fans over his recent departure from Portsmouth for north London, they heartily booed Defoe with his every touch in the opening minutes.

Defoe, who returned to Tottenham earlier this month after less than a year on the south coast, had an early opportunity to silence his detractors when he latched on to a disastrous cross-field ball by Sean Davis and ran clear but he drilled his shot agonisingly wide.

That was the first of a flurry of chances for both sides in a breathless first half that silenced most of the vitriol from the stands.

James did well to push away shots by Defoe and Lennon from the edge of the area then, when Lennon escaped down the right soon afterwards, he superbly tipped Defoe's header over the bar.

At the other end, a Heurelho Gomes fumble almost let in Peter Crouch and only a fine Vedran Corluka block denied Armand Traore as he looked to turn in Nugent's cross.

The amount of scoring opportunities on offer probably explains why Pompey, like Tottenham, are in trouble at the wrong end of the table and neither side tightened up defensively as the game progressed.

James had to be at his best to push away Ledley King's header from Corluka's cross and he was up on his feet to block substitute Bent's follow-up, even though the striker had already been flagged offside.

And Nugent wasted a golden opportunity to break the deadlock before half-time when, with King limping, he escaped the home defence but fired straight at Gomes.

Nugent did not have to wait long to claim his first top-flight goal, however, although there was an element of fortune in the way he broke the deadlock on 59 minutes.

After James somehow kept out Lennon's deflected shot, Traore ran at the home defence and the ball fell for the former Preston striker, who saw his first-time effort clip Gareth Bale and spin inside the far post.

Tottenham's response was to come forward in greater numbers and they only had to wait 11 minutes before they were level.

Modric found Defoe on the edge of the area and there was a mark of quality about his finish, which flew through Campbell's legs and past James.

By now Pompey were on the back foot and, with Tottenham enjoying all the late pressure, Corluka was unfortunate to see his header cleared off the line by Davis.

The chances kept coming for the home side and it looked impossible for Bent to miss when David Bentley's cross found him unmarked at the back post but, to the exasperation of Redknapp, he directed his header wide.

Tottenham Hotspur:

Gomes, Corluka, Woodgate, King (Dawson 44), Bale (Bentley 68), Lennon, Zokora, O'Hara, Modric, Pavlyuchenko (Bent 28), Defoe.

Subs Not Used: Alnwick, Huddlestone, Campbell, Taarabt.

Goals: Defoe 70.

Portsmouth:

James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Belhadj, Nugent (Utaka 73), Davis, Kaboul (Wilson 88), Kranjcar (Hreidarsson 90), Armand Traore, Crouch.

Subs Not Used: Begovic, Pamarot, Little, Kanu.

Booked: Davis, Kaboul.

Goals: Nugent 59.

Att: 36,011

Ref: Steve Bennett (Kent).

BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Portsmouth's David James