Portsmouth v Hereford preview

25 August 2009 10:02
Portsmouth will be looking to kick-start their season when they play host to Hereford on Tuesday. Pompey have endured a difficult start to the Premier League season, going pointless through their opening three fixtures. The Bulls have endured similar difficulties in League Two, taking two points from four games, but they did dispose of Charlton in the first round of the Cup. Pompey team newsPortsmouth look set to rest England keeper David James because of a knee injury for the midweek clash. Asmir Begovic is in line to deputise between the posts and on-loan Anthony Vanden Borre may get a start in defence. Papa Bouba Diop, Herman Hreidarsson and Steve Finnan (all hamstring) remain unavailable. Hereford team newsMarc Pugh and Lee Morris both look set to miss Hereford's trip to Fratton Park. The attacking duo sustained knocks during last Tuesday's defeat to Bury and subsequently missed Saturday's 1-0 loss at Crewe. They are now struggling to recover in time for the eagerly-anticipated trip to the south coast and are likely to play no part. However, Bristol City forwards Marlon Jackson and Tristan Plummer, who signed loan deals with the League Two outfit last week, are eligible to feature having made their debuts for the Bulls at Gresty Road. Defender Ryan Valentine also returns to the fray having completed a one-match suspension, while midfielder Glen Southam should be okay after coming off against Crewe with a cut to his head.

Source: SKY_Sports