Portsmouth News 24/7Writer: Chix 
Date:Sunday May 17 2009
Time: 8:47PM
UK time is: 08:45:51
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Pompey vs. Mackems
Fratton Park
18 May 2009
20:00
On Sky
Safe Pompey v Sunderland
It is the final home game of the season and everybody connected with Portsmouth FC can breathe a huge sigh of relief that we are safe. Sunderland however are not. The Black Cats come to Fratton Park knowing that only a win can guarantee their safety and secure a third successive Premier League season ahead of Sunday's final round of matches
Vital Quotes:
Paul Hart, with the help of Brian Kidd, Hull, West Brom, Middlesboro & Newcastle has done the job he was asked to do and kept Pompey in the Premiership. Tactics and (one) formation have been criticised along the way but some may claim he has now been vindicated, in some respects he has but in others he has not. We should have never have been the position in the first place, Tony Adams or not!
By quoting "It won't change the way we prepare for Monday's game" in response to whether we would be safe by kick-off time we can surely expect to see a 4-5-1 formation once again - Oh deep joy!
Will I be glad when this season is over..
Pompey have not scored in over six hours since 'The Kings' winner at home to Bolton on 18 April. Sunderland have not scored since Djibril Cisse's winner against Hull at the Stadium of Plight on the same day.
Despite this Black Cats boss Ricky Sbragia feels 'it will be 9-9 the way things are going, if we get our shooting boots on and they do' He is assuming we can find ours!
Pompey Team News:
Armand Traore has recovered from a groin problem and could make his first appearance since Paul Hart took charge in February, but I doubt it. No news on whether Nuge is fit but let's hope so, but if not we could see JP start for the first time since his injury or if we deploy a 442 formation we might see both!
Linvoy is fit and could make an appearance.
Player to watch: Just a few:
Hermann - It could be the last time we see him play for Pompey at Fratton Park
Johnson - It could be the last time we see him play for Pompey at Fratton Park
Campbell - It could be the last time we see him play for Pompey at Fratton Park
Distin - It could be the last time we see him play for Pompey at Fratton Park
Pennant - It could be the last time we see him play for Pompey at Fratton Park
Crouch - It could be the last time we see him play for Pompey at Fratton Park
Traore - It could be the last time we see him play for Pompey at Fratton Park
Davis - It could be the last time we see him play for Pompey at Fratton Park
Primus - It could be the last time we see him play for Pompey at Fratton Park
Kanu - It could be the last time we see him play for Pompey at Fratton Park
Mackems Team News:
Full-back George McCartney could return to the squad after missing six games with a calf injury and Kenwyne Jones and Kieran Richardson and Teemu Tainio are expected to shake off knocks but Craig Gordon and Nyron Nosworthy are definitely out
Player to watch: Djibril Sissy & Kenwyne Jonah:
The Frenchman with the daft hair-cut is Sunderlands top Premier League scorer with 10 goals whereas the Trinidad & Tobago striker who used to play for another team in red and white stripes is just bound to score.
Match Facts & Stats
Pompey are looking for a fifth victory in six Premier League matches against Sunderland and a third in a row at Fratton Park, to keep their 100% home Premier League record against the Wearsiders intact.
Sunderland have not won a 'top-flight' match at Fratton in 51 years (April 1958), but beat us 4-1 in November 1997 in the Championship.
Last season - Defoe scored from the spot to give us a 1-0 victory
Ref Watch:
Paul Morling
Match Prediction:
A packed Fratton Park, Pompey safe, Sunderland going for it - Gotta be 0-0 Hedge a bet here.
Next Fixtures:
Final game of the season - Wigan RFC
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Your Comments
Heard the ref was a homer, lets hope so! I reckon Hart may name his first ever attacking line-up tomorrow, what with us being safe and all, if not I despair for the future
paultsmouth
Cheers for covering Chix, just finishing the most hectic of hectic weekends now
paultsmouth
I use to really like Kenwynne Jones, but he seems to have gone off the boil lately. I do hope we will play attacking football on Monday, but why would we? If Hart plays players he has not played before and they score, will we not all say, why the hell did he not play them before? Nope, I think it will be the same old same. But I hope I'm wrong.
Gandor1
We should go all out attack for this game Kanu, Crouch, Nugent!!
nodster
good preview chixy... if we arent going to play a different way tonight, and next weekend, now that we are safe, we never will - come on hart, i know a lot of these players wont be yours next season but lets finish on a high and put on a show... oh yea, give linvoy some time on the pitch too, he, and we, deserve that too.
pompeyrug
Surely we should go on the attack? Don't bet on it though.
NinjaTim
I have heard Jamo is doubtful - ricked his neck in training yeaterday. Bet its 4-5-1 again - for both sides.
eastneydave
With Sunderland needing the points and IF we attack it should be a good game. Agree with nodster, put 3 up front, that ought to do the trick
Lemmi
If Hart goes with Davis, Hughes & Mullins 451, I'll scream the roof off the Fratton End!!! No wondwer Crouch is****ed off. Yes we are safe & should be grateful but again most of that is down to how poor the others were & that the fact we had won 4 of our 9 matches by early October. I thank Mr Redknapp for that! 5 wins since is fckin pathetic in the last 7 months.
storagematt
The secret of good management is the ability to change to the situation. Harts probationary period is almost up, so he needs to prove to everyone and himself, that he can play another way. Like Gandor1 I hope I am wrong, and we do see something new tonight.
Mike1954
I don't hold pout much hope for this game. It is most likely going to be a dour 0-0, or a 2-0 defeat.
pompeycarpet
It will be tight but I think we'll edge it 2-1.
Lemmi
not posted for ages but just wanted to get an opinion off my chest to Pompey fans who seem to have an understanding that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, whether or not we each agree/disagree... Well my current two pence worth... Hart as we all know needs to go back to doing what he does best, looking after the kids. Thanks for keeping us up but no thanks for next season. Needs to be replaced by either a good English manager like Coppell (unlikely given the fact he wants a break) or my new favourite for the job Ranieri (just been sacked by Juventus, would love to work in England again and cheaper than the likes of Ericksson, altho I admit the wages and our status may still be sticking points)... Next up the summer transfers: unless a buyer comes in we've got to accept that our kitty will be limited... so unfortunately what may seem lik a step back for us, is in fact what we actually have to do as we are not a top 8 side anymore... So i think we should look to the relegated clubs and the players from clubs who jus missed out on promotion (as well as further afield). I hate to admit it but Gary O'Neil was the best player on the pitch last monday in the boro-newcastle game from what i saw, so I'd be tempted to bring him back, Brunt and Greening from W.B.A are two good squad players as well as Eagles from Burnley if they dont go up in play off final and Stephen Hunt at Reading would be my options for midfield... I think if we kept davis, with belhadj, basinas and hughes that would make a nice bottom half midfield squad and all on cheaper wages than most prem players. Up top we'll need to add one/two to replace kanu, would love to see a loan deal for a Macheda (man u) or Di Santo (chelsea) or a similar young player who needs a full season before being integrated into a big clubs first team and at the back think we are desperate for a good CB, maybe Turner from Hull if they go down? and our biggest piece of business would be to keep johnson.... sorry to ramble, I'm revising for uni exams and haven't got out the house much to voice my opinions lately!!!
GoOnDave
begovic , johnson , campbell , distin , hermann , utaka , davis , mullins , hughes , kanu , crouch
stfc ballboy
IT'S GOT HOME WIN WRITTEN ALL OVER IT HAS THIS ONE!
merlin
There's a story in the News tonight, saying that Hart hasn't decided if he wants the job or not. Having just watched a dire 45 minutes of football, I've decided.
PhilTaglia
The second half was so much better and shows that we can play the ball round. at was great when he came on and gave us the width we have been. Utaka played really well upfront and looked a different player! Linvoy getting on was amazing and the season ended on a high. Looking forward to next week. The second half showed that Hart can make us play football. To be fair the first half was poor but Hart did try playing three upfront which didn't work. Still a good game and I have no problem with Hart playing like that every game.
zav
having watched a great 45 minutes of football, I'm not su sure anymore... LINVOY 3 - 1 SUNDERLAND
pompeycarpet
Great second half topped off by the appearance of Linvoy.
eastneydave
second half was some of the most thrilling football we have produced all season: Hart finally understood not to have three holding players in the 4-3-3. Begovic made a solid debut.
Choard
Thank you John Utaka for proving to me that i hadn't dreamt the skills I thought you had. Your first touch today was superb. You showed superb ball skills leaving defenders with egg on their face so many times. one goal and 2 assists i always said you had the tools now you've found them again make sure you know where you've put them for safe keeping. Heres hoping i will see you display those skills in a Pompey shirt more often you've certainly staked a claim to be played as an out and out striker.
Steve C
Sorry, not convinced by the second half performance either. Sunderland were pretty ropey and pretty much gifted us one of our goals. It's true that we were a lot better in the second half, but that's because we had a ridiculous formation in the first half. When Traore came on and gave us some width, we actually started to look a bit better. Even then Sunderland should have scored at least two towards the end. I'm pleased that Hart at least tried to attack, and I'm obviously as delighted as anyone that Linvoy got the standing ovation at home he so richly deserves, but I remain wholly unconvinced by Hart's tactical nouse.
PhilTaglia
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