Portsmouth V Tottenham Hotspur – Saturday 17th October

 

Kick-off: Saturday 17^th October – 15:00 GMT

Venue: Fratton Park

 

 

 

Portsmouth

 

League Position: 20th

Recent Form: LLLLW 

 

Portsmouth fans may have no choice but to welcome back some familiar faces on Saturday but although they may begrudge the arrival of some former team mates, the perfect message to say we aren’t missing you is to beat them in their former home, Fratton Park, although, let’s face it, Paul Hart would welcome them all back with open arms right now with the club seriously struggling to escape the lower reaches of the table.

 

Manager Paul Hart has insisted he doesn’t give one iota if any of the former Pompey players play for Spurs on Saturday. He and his players are only concentrating on one thing and that’s claiming all three points in Saturday’s clash. Portsmouth are about to enter a make-or-break part of the season as, after the arrival of Tottenham Hotspur, they take on a whole host of clubs who will probably spend most of the season fighting a relegation battle. A big result, ideally in the form of a win, at home to Spurs would be just the push in the right direction they need and it would be their first back-to-back wins of the season after previously losing seven on the spin before their 1-0 victory away at Wolves a fortnight ago.

  

A Pompey win wasn’t too far away, we have mentioned that quite recently in our previews about Portsmouth. The players are finally starting to adapt to Paul hart’s style of play, which mainly consists of hoofing it forward and hoping we get a goalscoring opportunity, at worst a set-play. That is where Portsmouth have looked the most dangerous this term, from set-plays, and that’s where their goal against Wolves came from, a corner. They have players who aren’t afraid to stick their body in when they could get hurt and they have actually become a nuisance in the opposing box.

 

However, although Portsmouth are finally starting to grasp how actually playing with attacking intent does actually win you games, were it not for an inform David James in goal, Portsmouth would probably still be rooted to the bottom of the table, with zero points. They’re still at the very foot of the table but at least they have something to build upon after their first win of the season, however, securing another win against a quality Tottenham side maybe asking a bit too much.

 

 

 

Tottenham Hotspur

 

League Position: 3rd

Recent Form: WLLWD

  

 

There were a handful of pundits predicting a big season from Tottenham this year but i doubt even they envisaged such a superb start, one where Spurs actually find themselves firmly in the mixer in third position, just five points off Chelsea in first and a point above last season runners-up, Liverpool. It’s hard to say they are actual title contenders but they are certainly capable of splitting the ‘Big Four’ up this season, but they must beat the little sides if they are to achieve such a feat.

 

A 2-2 draw away at Bolton Wanderers isn’t ideally what Harry Redknapp has in mind but it’s not a bad point when you consider that Bolton are an extremely awkward opponent on their own patch. This will now be Tottenham second away game in succession, their fiftsh of the season, as they head down south to take on Portsmouth, a venue where some players will be more familiar with than others.

 

Jermaine Defoe, Peter Crouch and Niko Kranjcar have all enjoyed a stint at Portsmouth, with Pompey actually aiding Jermaine Defoe’s recovery after a dreadful spell at Tottenham Hotspur beforehand. However, Harry, like he does, took him under his wing and he has blossomed ever since, scoring five goals this season. He may not admit it but he will be desperate to get on the score sheet in a bid to impress at Fratton Park this Saturday, with the World Cup not too far off now.

 

Tottenham have played four times on the road now, winning two, drawing one and losing one. The pair of victories came over similar sides in Hull City & West Ham United, teams near Portsmouth proximity, so Tottenham will be confident of getting the three points here, although, they will need to be wary of a resurgent Portsmouth side that will be buoyed by their recent success, their first of the season it has to be said.

 

 

 

Head-to-Head:

 

Portsmouth W: 2 Tottenham Hotspur W: 6 Draws: 2

 

Portsmouth probably won’t appreciate a fixture they haven’t had the best of luck in on recent showings, with Tottenham winning six out of ten, however, just two of those actually came at Fratton Park, with Pompey two victories both coming at home. Portsmouth beat Spurs 2-0 last season, but that was when Portsmouth still had their big stars.

 

 

Over 2.5 Goals: 3 Under 2.5 Goals: 7

 

Goals are few and far between whenever these two clash, with the three rare goal encounters both coming at White Hart Lane and not at Saturday’s venue; Fratton Park. Two goals is a familiar number in games between the two, with four of the previous six meetings at Fratton Park finishing with two goals.

 

 

Key Player:- David James

 

Back into the England fray in the absence of suspended Robert Green, David James will be on top of the world and his morale should be sky high. His performance in Portsmouth most recent game, a 1-0 victory away at Wolves, earned him a man of the match award as James pulled off some miraculous stops to help guide Portsmouth to their first win of the season. David James is often the saviour for Portsmouth, and he will need to be on top of his game if he is to halt a free-flowing Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

 

 

 

Match Verdict: DRAW – 5/2 PaddyPower

 

Tottenham are far and away the better of the two in terms of quality within the camps but their recent slip up away at Bolton Wanderers, and Portsmouth recent resurgence, has got us highly considering a punt on this ending a point a piece. It’s an old fashioned case of Tottenham’s class being cancelled out by Portsmouth home advantage and rejuvenated form. This could actually be the makings of a very entertaining game down south in Portsmouth.

 

 

 

 

Match Odds:

 

 

Portsmouth – 4/1 totesport

 

Tottenham Hotspur – 5/6 Bet365

 

Draw – 5/2 PaddyPower

 

 

 

SoccerBetting Value Tip: Both teams to score – 8/11 Bet365