By Tyne-Talk
December 13 2008

Newcastle travel to Fratton Park this weekend to take on Portsmouth, where Tony Adams will be seeking to extend his team's 5 game unbeaten run in the league. 7 Points separate the two sides in the Premier League table, with Portsmouth just outside the top 6 and Newcastle just outside the bottom 3. Newcastle travel on the back of a 4 match unbeaten run; with 4 points from their last 4 games and their last win coming against Aston Villa, 6 games ago. A 5^th consecutive draw for Newcastle will be a club record.

Despite the gap between the two teams in the table, both teams have scored 19 goals this season and Portsmouth have conceded just 1 goal less than Newcastle. Both managers go into the game in search of their 3^rd win in charge.

Tony Adams will be without Lassana Diarra and Younes Kaboul who are both struggling with ankle injuries, whilst Papa Bouba Diop will be serving his suspension. They will also be without John Utaka who has a hip problem. Portsmouth will be hoping Richard Hughes who is almost recovered from an ankle injury, Armand Traore who had a hamstring problem and Glen Johnson who had a knee injury will feature at some point during the game.

Joe Kinnear will hope to welcome Nicky Butt back into the starting eleven after missing out due to a hamstring injury. He may also give Damien Duff (groin) and Shola Ameobi (foot and ankle) pitch time after they both regained fitness. Joey Barton remains unavailable for selection.

However, he will have to wait before making any concrete decisions as Bassong, Butt, Guthrie, Duff and Ameobi will all undertake late fitness tests before travelling.

Michael Owen and Obafemi Martins are set to start together, with Mark Viduka on the bench.

Portsmouth: James; Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Belhadj, Little, Davis, Kranjcar, Crouch, Defoe, A Traore, Kanu, Pamarot, Hughes, Mvuemba, Nugent, Thomas, Hreidarsson, Ashdown.

Newcastle: Given, Harper, Beye, Enrique, N,Zogbia, Bassong, Coloccini, Taylor, Cacapa, Edgar, Butt, Guthrie, Duff, Gutierrez, Geremi, Owen, Martins, Viduka, Ameobi, Carroll, LuaLua.

Match Preview/Thread: Portsmouth v Newcastle

Discussion started by TyneTalk (IP Logged), 13/12/2008 16:22

TyneTalk
13/12/2008 16:22

Match Preview/Thread: Portsmouth v Newcastle

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nathan robinson
13/12/2008 16:59

We've only lost 1 more game and let in only 1 more goal, yet there's a 7 point and 10 place gap between us. Tis a funny old season this time. Another draw, another 2-2 draw I predict.

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annie
13/12/2008 21:41

2-2 draw. I can't see us doing better.

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MissC
13/12/2008 21:47

again...

Unfortunately Annie I agree, we havent won on the road for a long time.. What have we got this week that will change that fact?

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senyabtoon
13/12/2008 22:59

i dunno its the sort of game we just miht nick a win and like nathan said its very close on terms of games lost and goals scored and i have seen a far bit of pompey this year and they have not been solid at the back for me now i can tell big sol is old he looks slow and sluggish and anyway when you try and call a result this year you just end up wrong its crazy and if we do win all of a sudden hey presto we are sitting 14th !!! as long as chelsea beat west ham

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MissC
13/12/2008 23:10

Tomorrow is an interesting day because West Ham arent doing well nor are portsmouth when it comes to results.

I can't see Chelsea taking anything but 3 points, if we get 3 points il be smiling all week.

However I dont think we have the momentum to pursue a win or keep it more to the point.

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waffles
14/12/2008 04:43

We have a 4-game stretch that is crucial going into January. At Pompey, hosting Spuds, at Wigan, and hosting Liverpool. I think we need to get at least 8 points out of those 4 ties. If that means Kinnear needs to park the armor-plated bus in front of the goal for this match and Liverpool, then so-be-it.

Portsmouth isn't a flashy side, they are going to cross it into the box to crouch or beat you on the counter-attack with through-balls from Krancjer to Defoe. Bassong and Colo are good enough in the air that the cross shouldn't be the problem.

As for the counter-attack, Nicky Butt doesn't have the pace to hold down the center of the pitch against Krancjer, which is my biggest worry. If Owen and Martins can come out early and get some goals like last week, we need to play smart possession ball. The one thing that cannot happen is giving away free kicks near the box and having our Wing Backs too far forward.

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faheemusa
14/12/2008 15:18

Howay the Lads! 3-0!

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cappen
14/12/2008 15:21

It's amazing what we can do when we dont keep making backward passes!!

Well played second half...and another clean sheet away from home.

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nathan robinson
14/12/2008 15:22

@#$%& yeah!!!

Happy Birthday Michael Owen, not a bad way to celebrate turning 29.

Up to 14th now.

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senyabtoon
14/12/2008 15:23

new we could get a result but 3-0 nd its was a very solid and confident performance well done lads!!!

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faheemusa
14/12/2008 15:23

one of the classiest goals i've seen Owen score

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wasim4nufc
14/12/2008 15:24

Great result. We played particularly well in the 2nd half, really fantastic to see.



Wasim's Sport Blog

Toon4life

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nathan robinson
14/12/2008 15:24

First away win since March. Bring on Spurs!!

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CNDShearerFan16
14/12/2008 15:46

Finally a road performance to be proud of. Let's hope the very long corner has finally been turned.

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*Newcastlefan*
14/12/2008 16:02

Great result!

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gnd27
14/12/2008 16:32

Not only a great result but a pretty solid performance too!
I'm over the moon!

Well done lads!

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annie
14/12/2008 18:21

Fantastic! and all the sweeter as we put in a good performance. 14th

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lostmekeys
14/12/2008 19:21

much better than expected, i dont think portsmouth were below par, i think we played as well as we have all season. the defence were solid, the whole team worked for each other and once we pinched a goal the game plan worked a treat. i think the plan was the same for the last few away games, keep tight and work hard, look for something on the break. this time it worked, and being a goal up makes this formation work even better because the more the home side pressed for an equaliser the more oba's pace came into the game, leaving them unsure of how to play.
both strikers earned the corn today, hope whatever problem martins went off with doesnt keep him out next week

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Gallowgate Luke
14/12/2008 21:56

Fantastic result and 3 very much needed points.
Bring on Spuds next weekend - our home league record against them is rather good if I dont say so myself

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Omar_786
14/12/2008 23:04

howay the lads we are back in business ... bring on the spuds at st james


He's The Next Ronaldo (Sir Bob R.I.P)

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Jaryd
15/12/2008 03:47

Good performance. Good to see we can have an away win on the other side of the country. Owen showed his class with that finish. Guthrie's goal capped of his performance. Martins was bound to score with all the chances he was creating. Given was superb in goal.

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Mighty__Mag
15/12/2008 10:24

i think we looked more solid at the back, limiting defoe and crouch to very little resulting in defoes frustration, we should continue to play without steven taylor as that back four kept a clean sheet an a vital 1st away win! Feel Enrique is showing great signs of late!

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Jaryd
15/12/2008 12:15

Yeah spot on with Enrique. He looked a bit shaky at the start but it's all about settling in with Enrique. Can become a great output when he's on his game which showed with the last goal - that was Enrique right with the assist??

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nathan robinson
15/12/2008 12:44

Enrique played in Martins for the 2nd. All 3 goals were assisted well, first by Jonas, then Jose, and finally Ameobi's pull back to Guthrie.

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senyabtoon
15/12/2008 16:42

Gotta to agree with some of the plaudits for enrique and in the past i along with others have been quick to jump on his back but i was impressed with his game lets hope he keeps it up!!

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mentalman
15/12/2008 16:51

i to have doubted enrique but lets give him a decent run in the team before we start condeming him to the exit door

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nathan robinson
15/12/2008 17:20

Everybody has doubted Enrique to be fair, as we do with all new signings especially those from Foreign Leagues, we tend to pick up more on their little bad moments.

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Jaryd
16/12/2008 07:37

Yeah never believed we should have got rid of Enrique but I've doubted him being in the first team at times. It all depends on how well he settles in to games and all.

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