Follow every kick as Portsmouth take on Hull City at Fratton Park in the Premier League
on 20-Mar-2010, kick off time 15:00
Portsmouth v Hull City Live
Iain Dowie must hit the ground running if he is to save new club Hull City from relegation to the Championship. Beleaguered Portsmouth are the first opposition for the new Tigers boss, who took the reins at the KC Stadium following Phil Brown's departure on Monday. Pompey appear down and out after they were finally docked nine points for entering administration last month. However, the ailing Tigers sit just one place ahead of them and five points the better following a poor run that has brought defeats in their previous four league fixtures and just one win in their last 15. Dowie has nine games to try and save City from the drop, with the squad he has inherited currently down in 19th place in the table and three points adrift of the safety mark. The 45-year-old has been out of the game since a spell as assistant manager to Alan Shearer at Newcastle United at the end of last season which - perhaps worryingly for Hull fans - ended in relegation. Meanwhile, things are just getting worse for Portsmouth after they crashed to another defeat on Monday evening, going down 4-1 at Liverpool. This most recent setback sees them eight points adrift of Wolverhampton Wanderers, who sit just outside the relegation places. First-half goals in the space of seven minutes from Fernando Torres, Ryan Babel and Alberto Aquilani crushed the beleaguered southerners at Anfield as Rafael Benitez's men took full advantage of their defensive frailties. Avram Grant's men are locked at the foot of the table and, with an impending nine-point deduction awaiting them, they look destined for the Championship next season. The hosts should only be missing midfield man Kevin Boateng (ankle) for the game and David James, who missed the Liverpool defeat with a calf problem, may return at the expense of Jamie Ashdown. George Boateng is suspended for Hull following his dismissal in their home defeat against Arsenal last weekend. Anthony Gardner (ankle) and Ian Ashbee (knee) are definitely missing for the new-look management team.
Source: DSG
