Source: FOOTYMAD
Sheffield United vs Portsmouth Preview
Can Pompey win at the seventh time of asking? Pompey travel to Sheffield looking for their first Championship win of the season with Sheffield United also having suffered a humiliating defeat on Tuesday.Team NewsGary Speed is without the injured Darius Henderson, Ryan France and Lee Williamson though Chris Morgan is pushing for a recall to the side. Stephen Jordan will line up against the team he agreed to join before backtracking and joining the Blades in the summer.Aaron Mokoena may well be fit for Saturday's clash but is unlikely to start and Kanu may also be rested after playing the majority of Tuesday's game at Selhurst Park. David Nugent has a knock, but should be available for the match.The MatchPompey may have been battered 4-1 by Palace on Tuesday but if you thought that was bad, then you only have to look at Sheffield United's 4-0 home defeat to managerless Scunthorpe to know that we didn't have the worst result of the night.However, Gary Speed's side have managed to win two league games this season despite their inconsistencies, and will fancy their chances tomorrow as Bramall Lane is one of Pompey's historic bogey grounds, having not won there since November 5th, 1955.My main worry going into this game is that we have only scored two league goals all season, one of which was a deflection and the other was an absolute gift on Tuesday.It would also help if our back four defended as a unit and our goalkeeper didn't make rash decisions. Still, with Lawrence and Kanu in the side we are capable of creating chances but that is the only thing Pompey have got right recently.But playing a side wounded from an embarrassing home defeat to Scunthorpe may well be the ideal fixture for Pompey to claim a much needed three points. Of course, it's more likely that the heavy defeat will galvanise the Blades and some lacklustre defending coupled with woeful finishing will see Pompey beaten again.I'm not confident going into this one.Predicted Starting Line-UpsSheffield UnitedGK: Steve SIMONSENRB: Jean CALVECB: Nyron NOSWORTHYCB: Kyle BARTLEYLB: Stephen JORDANRM: Johannes ERTLCM: Jamie WARDCM: Chris MONTGOMERYLM: Leon BRITTONCF: Richard CRESSWELLCF: Ched EVANSPompeyGK: Jamie ASHDOWNRB: Joel WARDCB: Ibrahima SONKOCB: Ricardo ROCHALB: Carl DICKINSONRM: Liam LAWRENCECM: Hayden MULLINSCM: Michael BROWNLM: John UTAKACF: David NUGENTCF: Dave KITSONLast Time: Sheffield United 1 Portsmouth 1 (Premier League - 13/01/2007)Stephen Quinn gave the Blades the lead after curling in a first half free kick and it looked like that Pompey would be beaten at Bramall Lane once again. However, Gary O'Neil capitalised on a defensive error by Claude Davis and goalkeeper Paul Gerrard to score his first goal of the season and win his "haircut" bet with Sean Davis.My PredictionUnless we get it right at the front and at the back, I can see nothing but another defeat for Pompey. Unfortunately, I believe the Blades will bounce back before we do.Sheffield United 2 Portsmouth 0
