Follow every kick as Portsmouth take on Aston Villa in the Premier League
on 18-Apr-2010, kick off time 16:00
Portsmouth v Aston Villa Live
Portsmouth have endured what can only be described as an horrific season, both on and off the pitch, but despite their relegation to the Championship, Avram Grant's side will still finish the season off in style courtesy of an FA Cup final appearance against Chelsea. However, before that, they still have to play out their league engagements, and on Sunday Pompey host Aston Villa, a side who have seen their form fade since the turn of the year. Indeed, Martin O'Neill's side have drawn eight of their last 13 league fixtures and have managed just one win in five. The Villans do boast a solid backline, however, and have kept an impressive six clean sheets in their last nine away matches in the league. Pompey's own recent form has also been poor, with the south coast side failing to score in each of their last four league games and enjoying just one win in seven. The sides have already met at Fratton Park this season, when the visitors won 4-2 in a Carling Cup quarter-final game back in December and Pompey's form in recent league clashes won't fill them with confidence either. Indeed, the Solent side have failed to score in their last three Premier League games against Villa while they have enjoyed only two wins in six league encounters with the Villans at Fratton Park. Pompey will face Villa without the services of the long-term injured Danny Webber and Hermann Hreidarsson, while Nadir Belhadj and Tal Ben Haim remain doubts. Pompey boss Grant defended his team selection in the midweek draw against Wigan, in which he named only four subs and gave debuts to two teenagers. "The Premier League need not say anything about Portsmouth," he said. "They need to give us an award because we are playing as we play with a lot of injuries - it is not ideal for us." Villa, on the other hand, should travel south with a fully fit squad but after their midweek draw with Everton, manager O'Neill feels that European qualification will be a big ask. "Now I would say we have to win the whole lot from here," he explained. "It is not impossible but it will be tough. We will just give it all that we can."
Source: DSG
