By Tyne-Talk
April 12 2008

Newcastle travel down south today for a 5.15pm kick off at Fratton Park and manager Kevin Keegan will go head to head with the man who turned Newcastle down, Harry Redknapp. Newcastle have won 3 of their last 6 games and lost just 2, whilst Portsmouth go into the game with 5 wins in their last 6 games under their belt (including cup games).

The last time these two sides met Newcastle lost 4-1, a scoreline Keegan will be keen to avoid today as Portsmouth fight for 5^th place. 3 points today could leave them 1 point away from Everton who are currently in 5^th.

However Newcastle are yet to win at Fratton Park and haven't won a game on Portsmouth's home turf since 1991

Keegan is likely to maintain his goal scoring trio upfront and Steven Taylor returns to the side after a bout of food poisoning which kept him out of last weekend's win against Reading. Charles N'Zogbia may also feature, despite making it very clear over the last week or so that he has no intention to remain at the club past the end of the season, instead favouring a move to London.

The side will go into the game looking to jump Tottenham Hotspur in the league, a win today will give Newcastle 41 points.

Spurs play Middlesbrough today who are currently on 35 points. For Newcastle, a draw would be great, as a win for either side would disadvantage Newcastle's chances of progression. A win for Middlesbrough will leave them with 38 points but with a better goal difference whilst a win for Spurs will leave Newcastle playing catch-up for another week. Sunderland are also hot on the heels of Newcastle with 36 points.

Portsmouth could go into the game without Lassana Diarra who has missed 3 out of the last 4 games with a thigh injury, John Utaka who is recovering from a hamstring injury and Milan Baros who has been out with an ankle problem. Kanu may also be sidelined as Harry is reluctant to overuse the 31 year old ahead of the FA Cup Final next month.

Pompey could welcome the return of Lauren and Richard Hughes as well as Jermaine Defoe who has had an excellent run at Portsmouth since moving from Tottenham in the transfer window. Defoe looks to be Newcastle's biggest threat as he is repeatedly hitting the back of the net for Portsmouth. He has missed the last two matches, first due to being cup tied and then a family bereavement and so will be raring to go.

Teams

KO 17.15

Match Preview/Thread: Portsmouth v Newcastle

Discussion started by TyneTalk (IP Logged), 12/04/2008 12:37

TyneTalk
12/04/2008 12:37

Match Preview/Thread: Portsmouth v Newcastle

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ste_ne24
12/04/2008 12:58

3-1 the toon.. howay the lads!

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Newtz
12/04/2008 13:12

The last time these two sides met Newcastle won 4-1, a scoreline Harry will be keen to avoid today???

Anyway it will be 2-1 the toon.

Nos es football dementis.

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i!
12/04/2008 16:04

2-1 Toon.


Get regular updates from one of TyneTalk's mintest posters, follow: [www.twitter.com] @adameverett92

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MissC
12/04/2008 16:16

Agree though I could be pursuaded for a 3-1 again.....

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annie
12/04/2008 16:17

I agree 2-1 the Toon.



Oops! I meant thumbs up.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:04:12:16:21:09 by annie.

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T00N B0Y
12/04/2008 16:50

3 - 1 to the Toon!

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nathan robinson
12/04/2008 17:02

3-2 Pompey

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CNDShearerFan16
12/04/2008 17:06

2-2 is my guess.

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cappen
12/04/2008 17:11

Dont care the score as long as we win! Pity Bolton won today.

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MissC
12/04/2008 17:11

Well lets get under way and see which team turns up.

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Gallowgate Luke
12/04/2008 17:12

2-1 Toon

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CNDShearerFan16
12/04/2008 17:19

Look at James' silly little cap!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:04:12:17:28:16 by CNDShearerFan16.

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ste_ne24
12/04/2008 17:26

i got 150 - 1 for toon 3-1 and martins scoring fisrt goal howay

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Gallowgate Luke
12/04/2008 17:36

Century radio says we're the better team

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ste_ne24
12/04/2008 17:44

man this stream is sh it

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ste_ne24
12/04/2008 17:51

i'd say its pretty much even so far

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MissC
12/04/2008 17:54

I had similar odds for defoe and 1-3

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MissC
12/04/2008 18:05

So 0-0 at half time.....

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ste_ne24
12/04/2008 18:06

ooh canny effort from taylor there.. i'd settle for a win i'm not really bothered about my bet.. i only put a pound on

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senyabtoon
12/04/2008 18:13

pretty evev so far but id say we are edging it viduka was very close from the corner just before half time howay the lads!!!

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MissC
12/04/2008 18:19

you would settle for a win?

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ste_ne24
12/04/2008 18:34

yeah im not really bothered about money.. very unlikely it would turn out like that anyway. only popped into the bookies as its next door to where i get my stella.. damn this stream and damn this pc

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MissC
12/04/2008 18:40

Harper has his hat on now

Good job, without it he may not have made that save.

Amazing that the 2 players on Defoe prior to his shot were Owen and Viduka - were they not?

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CNDShearerFan16
12/04/2008 18:51

Thank goodness Defoe's been@#$%&today.

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ste_ne24
12/04/2008 18:59

heres goal man smith

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CNDShearerFan16
12/04/2008 19:10

An away point is something I guess.

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ste_ne24
12/04/2008 19:12

played pretty decent.. not a bad game.. fair result in the end i think

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roysta
12/04/2008 19:55

good solid point i reckon well done lads a clean sheet and the unbeaten run continues

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nathan robinson
12/04/2008 20:00

Got to be content with a point at Portsmouth really.

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MissC
12/04/2008 21:12

And other results went our way

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