Portsmouth v Man City preview

28 August 2009 11:51
New Pompey forward Tommy Smith could start his first game for the club when Manchester City travel to Fratton Park on Sunday for a game that can be seen live on Sky Sports 1 and HD1. Smith joined the South Coast side from Watford for £1.8million on Thursday, and is set to go straight into the squad to face big-spending City. However, Portsmouth will be without central defender Sylvain Distin who looks set to complete his move to Everton, as they look to kick-start their league campaign after a poor start. Paul Hart's team have yet to get a point on the board, having recorded consecutive losses to Arsenal, Birmingham and Fulham, but will be hoping to cause an upset when Mark Hughes' troops arrive in town. The Pompey boss will have to re-shuffle his pack after the departure of Distin, with Steve Finnan, Linvoy Primus, Papa Bouba Diop and Hermann Hreidarsson still out with injuries. City newsCity travel to Fratton Park with two wins out of two in the Premier League, and Kolo Toure is likely to take the captain's armband once more having led the team out in the League Cup in the absence of Richard Dunne. City are likely to give a league debut to new defender Joleon Lescott following his £24million move from Everton, but Roque Santa Cruz, Michael Johnson and Vincent Kompany are all sidelined. New signing Sylvinho could also make the squad. Possible starting XIs Portsmouth: James, Mokoena, Belhadj, Kaboul, Vanden Borre, Mullins, Kranjcar, Wilson, Smith, Utaka, Piquionne Man City: Given, Richards, Toure, Lescott, Bridge, Barry, Ireland, Wright-Phillips, Robinho, Adebayor, Tevez

Source: SKY_Sports