Source: Northern_Echo
Match Preview: Sunderland v Portsmouth
SUNDERLAND Fulop Nosworthy Da Silva Turner McCartney Malbranque Cana Henderson Reid Bent Jones[LNB] Smith Dindane Boateng OHara Wilson Yebda Hreidarsson Ben-Haim Kaboul Finnan James PORSTMOUTH[LNB] Sunderland subs (from): Carson (gk), Liddle, Meyler, Reed, Murphy, ODonovan, Noble, Healy, Campbell. Portsmouth subs (from): Begovic (gk), Brown, Vanden Borre, Belhadj, Mullins, Diop, Hughes, Piquionne, Kanu.[LNB] SUNDERLAND: Steve Bruce is desperately hoping that full-back George McCartney will pass a fitness test on his injured hamstring. With five senior defenders unavailable, Bruce will be forced to play midfielder Lorik Cana at centre-half if McCartney does not pull through. Teenage striker Ryan Noble has been promoted to the bench after scoring 32 goals in 23 starts at reserve and Academy level this season. Suspensions: Bardsley (1), Richardson (1) Injuries: Gordon (wrist), Mensah (groin), Ferdinand (ankle), Zenden (hamstring), Cattermole (knee) Last five league games: LLWLD Leading league scorer: Bent 9 Next game: vs Aston Villa (H) 15/12/09[LNB] PORTSMOUTH: Goalkeeper David James looks set to return between the posts at the Stadium of Light. Asmir Begovic is likely to make way for the England international, who has recovered from a calf injury. Defender Younes Kaboul is back after serving a one-match ban against Burnley last weekend, while Papa Bouba Diop should return to the squad after recovering from a hamstring injury. Suspensions: None Injuries: Ward (groin) Last five league games: WLLWD Leading league scorer: Dindane 4 Key Player: Jamie O'Hara - The former Spurs midfielders form has been one of the few bright spots in Pompey's dismal season.[LNB] Last season: 1-2 League head to head: Sunderland 35, Portsmouth 31, Draws 30 Referee: Steve Bennett (Orpington) G11 Y43 R1 Ave: 4.00 Last Sunderland game: vs Chelsea (H) L1-3 18/08/09 Y4 R0 Odds: H5/6; A4/1; D5/2[LNB] It's a fact: Pompey striker Tommy Smith scored eight goals in 41 appearances during a season-long spell at Sunderland in 2003-04. Comment by Scott Wilson: Sunderland desperately need a win after two poor away displays, and they couldn't have asked for better opposition to face. Prediction: 3-1[LNB]
