Portsmouth vs Watford Preview

Can Pompey start 2012 in style? The opposition for Portsmouth's first game of 2012 is the same was it was for the first game in 2011, but Pompey fans will be hoping for a much different result this time round. Team News Greg Halford and Joel Ward will be missing as they picked up their fifth bookings of the season at Leicester yesterday. Ricardo Rocha faces a late check on a knock but Luke Varney may be available. Sean Dyche may stick with the same side that hammered Doncaster yesterday as he has no new injury worries. The Match After an encouraging performance at Leicester, Pompey take on Watford needing a win to put some distance between them and the bottom three. After all, this is the month where the fire sale might begin and the points deduction might hit the club. The Hornets, believe it or not, currently hold the longest unbeaten record in the Championship having not tasted defeat in eight games so they will prove to be difficult opposition, as they showed when they easily beat us at Vicarage Road when Michael Appleton first took charge. The manager has a problem as he has no natural right back for this game with Halford and Ward suspended. I expect Aaron Mokoena will fill in at right back with Rocha partnering Pearce at centre back if he's fit. If not, we may see Hermann Hreidarsson get a rare start. After impressing on his first start for the club you would also expect Marko Futacs to keep his place, whilst Erik Huseklepp should replace Joel Ward in midfield. Hopefully Appleton will retain the attacking attitude shown yesterday and we'll see an entertaining game tomorrow, because Watford will certainly come forward often with their quick wingers and powerful strikers. But I think we have enough to inflict Watford's first defeat in nine games, and that would be a real boost before the off-field issues look to hit the club hard in the coming weeks. Predicted Starting Line-Ups Pompey GK: Stephen HENDERSON RB: Aaron MOKOENA CB: Ricardo ROCHA CB: Jason PEARCE LB: Joe MATTOCK RM: Liam LAWRENCE CM: Hayden MULLINS CM: David NORRIS LM: Erik HUSEKLEPP SS: Dave KITSON CF: Marko FUTACS Watford GK: Scott LOACH RB: Lee HODSON CB: Nyron NOSWORTHY CB: Adrian MARIAPPA LB: Carl DICKINSON RM: Michael KIGHTLY CM: Jonathan HOGG CM: Prince BUABEN LM: Mark YEATES CF: Troy DEENEY CF: Marvin SORDELL Last Time: Portsmouth 3 Watford 2 (Championship - 16/10/2010) Hayden Mullins opened the scoring with a superb strike from 25 yards as Pompey dominated the first half but Watford equalised when Martin Taylor headed in Jordan Mutch's corner. The Hornets then took the lead when Stephen McGinn turned Michael Bryan's cross past Ashdown but Pompey hit back almost immediately through Dave Kitson. Michael Brown then curled in a winning goal ten minutes from time to defeat Malky Mackay's men during this topsy-turvy encounter. My Prediction This is a very important game for Pompey and I think we'll just have enough to edge out Watford. Portsmouth 2 Watford 1

Source: FOOTYMAD