Man Utd v Portsmouth preview

Published: 22 Apr 2009 - 10:33:44

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Manchester United host Portsmouth at Old Trafford on Wednesday with manager Sir Alex Ferguson expected to ring the changes. The Scot shocked many with his starting XI for the FA Cup semi-final against Everton on Sunday and ultimately paid the price for fielding a side that had an average age of just 22, eventually losing 4-2 on penalties. The familiar faces of Edwin Van der Sar, John O'Shea, Darren Fletcher, Ryan Giggs, Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Michael Carrick were told to stay at home while Dimitar Berbatov, Patrice Evra and Paul Scholes were only on the bench but all are set to feature in the Pompey clash. 34-year-old Scholes is set to start in what will be his 600th appearance for the club. Rafael and Fabio Da Silva, Federico Macheda, Danny Wellbeck, Ben Foster and Darren Gibson all started at the weekend and all are expected to step down for the more established stars. Centre-back pairing Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic could be the only survivors from the side that began the game against Everton. Chief beneficiariesThe champions were the chief beneficiaries of the stunning 4-4 draw between title rivals Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield on Tuesday. The point took the Merseyside club top but that feeling could be short-lived if United avoid defeat at Old Trafford. Ferguson has faced stinging criticism for fielding a weakened team at the weekend and he will be hoping his side put on a display which proves he was right to do so. Carrick, who missed the last-four clash with a minor knock, is hoping to be passed fit for the league encounter while Fletcher, who has been suffering from a hamstring problem, is back in the reckoning. The match is of equal significance to Pompey as the club look to preserve their Premier League status. The South Coast club are six points above the drop zone and know that one more win would surely guarantee top flight football at Fratton Park for another season. Portsmouth have grown in confidence under temporary boss Paul Hart, the team have lost just once, a 1-0 defeat a home to Chelsea, since he took over and are currently unbeaten in five games conceding just four goals in the process. AbsenteesHowever, Pompey, who have former United assistant manager Brian Kidd as their current number two, will be without the creative spark of Niko Kranjcar after the midfielder was forced off in the weekend win over Bolton with an ankle injury. Defender Younes Kaboul, who has been filling in at right-back, is also likely to miss out after tearing fibres in a thigh muscle. This should mean Glen Johnson, so impressive in a more advanced role against the Trotters, will revert back to his natural position with Jermaine Pennant coming in out wide. Midfielder Sean Davis is also expected to start despite reopening a wound on his knee against Bolton.