Six reasons why Newcastle should beat Portsmouth

Newcastle/Portsmouth, 8pm, Setanta Spts 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Portsmouth destroyed Newcastle 4-1 at St James’ Park last season - charging into a 3-0 lead after just 11 minutes - and they have only lost two of their last nine games. However, here are six reasons why Newcastle should win arguably their biggest game of the decade and at the very least take a point:

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1. Newcastle have won eight of their last ten home games against Portsmouth.

2. The Magpies’ heaviest win of the season came in the reverse fixture at Fratton Park when they destroyed Portsmouth 3-0.

3. Alan Shearer was never beaten in five Premier League clashes with Pompey as a player.

Posted: April 27th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Newcastle and Spurs should provide Arsenal and Chelsea with tough tests

A stat on every Premier League game taking place this weekend

Portsmouth v Everton (Saturday, 12.45pm, Sky Sports 1)
There have been under 2.5 goals in each of Everton’s last four trips to Fratton Park and their last ten away games.
Best Bet: Under 2.5 goals at 1.66 on Betfair

Blackburn v West Ham
West Ham have won six straight games against Blackburn but have lost all five of their Premier League away games against Sam Allardyce sides.
Best Bet: The home win at evens with most bookmakers

Fulham v Manchester United
Both teams have scored in each of the champions’ last three league games and six of their seven Premier League trips to Craven Cottage.

Posted: March 20th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

West Brom need to repeat their Arsenal heroics of 2005

Previews of tonight’s other two Premier League matches

Sky Sports chose to televise Liverpool’s clash with Sunderland tonight, probably under the misguided belief that the Reds would still be in the title race come March, but there are two other big Premier League games tonight. One match sees a struggling team incapable of scoring goals and without a league win in five travel to West Brom while the other sees Guus Hiddink’s Chelsea visit relegation-threatened Portsmouth:

Portsmouth v Chelsea
Chelsea have won their two previous meetings with Portsmouth this season 4-0 and consequently that scoreline is priced as low as 22/1 with Paddy Power. Pompey have taken just one point from their last fourteen meetings with the Blues and that came at Fratton Park last season when Jermain Defoe equalised on his debut. Hiddink’s side are the second best away side in the league, with nine wins from thirteen. Portsmouth have won just one of their last seven domestic home games and haven’t won consecutive games at Fratton Park since Harry Redknapp left.

West Brom v Arsenal

Posted: March 3rd, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Portsmouth are expected to choose Curbishley or Grant

There are two clear leaders in the races to succeed Tony Adams

(Photo Credit: Chris Ison, PA)

Alan Curbishley and Avram Grant got off on the wrong foot last season when the former West Ham boss said that Manchester United deserved the title more than Chelsea. Now they will lock horns again after being installed as the clear frontrunners to succeed Tony Adams at Portsmouth:

Avram Grant (4/7 with Paddy Power)
Bizarrely, the best job offer a manager who came within a John Terry slip-up of winning the Champions League last season is now offered is at a team locked in a relegation battle after selling two of their star players. However, Grant has made it clear he has unfinished business in England and he has previous with Portsmouth after spending a season there as a technical director before moving to Chelsea.

Alan Curbishley (6/1 with Sky Bet)
In many ways Curbishley seems like the perfect fit at Portsmouth, considering the way he saved West Ham from relegation and solidified their position in the Premier League. But Curbs quit there because George McCartney was sold without his agreement so the sale of Jermain Defoe might not have sat too well with him. Portsmouth might also feel awkward appointing Curbishley now after threatening legal action last week against a newspaper who claimed he was being sounded out about the job while Adams was still in charge.

Posted: February 9th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Five reasons why Tony Adams should feel very hard done by

Portsmouth sack luckless Adams after a home loss to Liverpool

Every Monday, chickendinner reveals five interesting stats about the weekend’s football. However, after the news broke last night that Tony Adams had been sacked by Portsmouth, this week we are instead providing five reasons to sympathise with the former Arsenal captain:

1. Adams was only given sixteen games in charge of Portsmouth this season, which was one game less than former Blackburn boss Paul Ince had.

2. Despite the criticisms of Portsmouth’s defence under Adams, they lost by three goals just twice in his 22 games this season. In comparison, Harry Redknapp lost four of his 13 games by three or more and all three of their heaviest defeats this season came under the stewardship of the Spurs’ boss.

3. Adams lost five of his first twelve Premier League games before being forced to sell Jermain Defoe. That again compares well with his predecessor, who lost seven of his last twelve as manager.

Posted: February 9th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Liverpool are 4/5 to pile more misery on poor Tony Adams

Portsmouth/Liverpool, Sat 5.30pm, Set S1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Even Tottenham fans could be forgiven for feeling some sympathy towards former Arsenal captain Tony Adams as he struggles to adapt to life as a Premier League manager. Portsmouth’s terrible form has left them just one point above the relegation zone and while Liverpool have been ordinary recently, the 4/5 on offer from Bet365 and 888sport on them leaving with three points does look hard to resist:

» Portsmouth haven’t won any of their last eight Premier League games, taking one point from their last available 21.

» Tony Adams’ side have lost three successive home league games - against Newcastle, West Ham and Aston Villa - as well as losing at Fratton Park to Swansea in the FA Cup.

Posted: February 6th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | 1 Comment