Stoke 1 Portsmouth 0- Ricardo Fuller compounds Pompeys misery
22 Nov 2009 - 21:15:16
Full of it: Match winner Ricardo Fuller holds off Younes Kaboul
David James suffered a fresh injury setback on Sunday, raising more fears about his chances of going to the World Cup as England's first-choice goalkeeper next summer. Fabio Capello has warned that he will not take James to South Africa unless he is fully fit, and the England coach will have been alarmed to learn that the 39-year-old was withdrawn from Portsmouth's line-up after injuring his calf muscle in the warm-up.
Pompey boss Paul Hart admitted that the new injury might have been caused by his goalkeeper compensating for the problems in his troublesome left knee.
James, who has not started an international since the beginning of April following knee surgery in the summer, cannot train properly for two days after every game as part of the rehabilitation programme.
'I think he'll be fit for the World Cup,' said Hart. 'It's difficult to say that the two are associated, but we'll assess it in the morning.
'Up until now he's been out on the pitch. He has to do some gym work to help him through it, but we're managing the situation.'
James' withdrawal contributed to a miserable day for Hart who saw Kevin-Prince Boateng have a penalty saved before Ricardo Fuller beat reserve goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown to keep Pompey three points adrift at the bottom.
Miss: Kevin-Prince Boateng's spot kick is saved Thomas Sorensen
It stemmed from the best move of a scrappy game 16 minutes fromtime. Matthew Etherington played a one-two with Dean Whitehead andknocked the ball into Fuller whose neat turn sent Marc Wilson stumblingoff balance. The Jamaica international took advantage immediately,curling a right-foot shot beyond Ashdown and into the bottom cornerfrom 25 yards.
It was Fuller's first Barclays Premier League goal of the seasonand Stoke boss Tony Pulis admitted he was about to replace the formerPortsmouth striker.
'He looked nervous against Hull two weeks ago and he looked nervousagain,' said Pulis. 'He breeds off confidence and that will give him agreat lift.'
Worry: David James was warned over his fitness by Fabio Capello earlier this week
Match StatsSTOKE CITY: Sorensen 8; Wilkinson 7, Shawcross 6, Huth 6, Collins 5; Etherington 6, Diao 4 (Lawrence 57min, 6), Whitehead 6, Delap 5; Beattie 5 (Sidibe 57, 5), Fuller 7 (Tuncay 84).
Booked: Whitehead
PORTSMOUTH: Ashdown 5; Ben Haim 5, Wilson 5, Kaboul 6, Hreidarsson 6; Mullins 6 (Webber 80), O'Hara 8, Brown 6, Boateng 5; Kanu 5; Dindane 7 (Piquionne 73, 5).
Booked: Brown, Mullins.
Man of the match: Jamie O'Hara.
Referee: Kevin Friend.
Defeat was harsh on Pompey who deserved a draw at least. It mighthave been a different story had Boateng been more clinical afterreferee Kevin Friend pointed to the spot in the seventh minute whenRory Delap nearly decapitated Aruna Dindane as he swung wildly at aloose ball in his own box.
Boateng tried to slide his penalty low to Sorensen's left but placedit too close to the keeper who guessed the right way and made arelatively comfortable save.
'I do the statistics on penalties and I've also got my theory aboutit which I'm not going to share with you right now, but I was delightedto keep it at 0-0 at a crucial time,' said Sorensen.
The Dane also pulled off a flying save to turn away a 30-yard effortfrom Jamie O'Hara, but was rarely troubled besides. Then again, neitherwas Ashdown which says much about a forgettable game played in highwinds.
At a stretch: African pair Nwankwo Kanu and Salif Diao battle it out
Delap irritated Portsmouth in other ways. Portsmouth objected to thefact that towels are laid on for him to dry the ball before deliveringhis trademark long throw-ins. Pompey defender Hermann Hreidarsson madea point of pursuing the ball-boys down the sidelines and demandingequal use of the towels, much as they tried to conceal them.
But Stoke looked uncharacteristically subdued for a team who thriveon their home form. 'The first half was as poor as we've played but thelads really worked hard,' added Pulis. Hart's gloom was understandable.
'We controlled the game but you can't legislate for missing apenalty,' said Hart. 'To say we're disappointed is an understatement.'
Clash of the day: Rory Delap catches Aruna Dindane
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