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

Portsmouth are likely to leave Old Trafford empty-handed

Manchester United v Portsmouth, Premier League, 8pm

It might not be on TV but tonight’s home game against in-form Portsmouth offers Manchester United the chance to open up a three point lead at the top of the Premier League. Here are five superfacts about the match:

1. The last five clashes between the two sides have featured under 2.5 goals.

2. Portsmouth won at Old Trafford in the FA Cup last season but they have lost on all five of their Premier League visits.

3. Manchester United haven’t scored in the second-half in any of their last five meetings with Portsmouth.

Posted: April 22nd, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Aston Villa haven’t beaten a top ten team at home all season

Six stats about this weekend’s football

1. Aston Villa have played every team in the top-half at home this season and they have failed to win one of those games. Every other club in the Premier League have beaten at least one of the ten.

2. Spurs have lost just one of nineteen home games under Harry Redknapp and are now the sixth-best performing Premier League team since the weekend he arrived.

3. chickendinner felt Tony Adams was unlucky to get the sack two months ago but Portsmouth are flourishing under Paul Hart, losing just one of ten games under the former Nottingham Forest boss.

4. Lyon’s hopes of an eighth straight Ligue 1 title are in jeopardy after a run of two wins in seven, which leaves them four points off top with six to go.

5. Wolfsburg were languishing in eighth at the end of January before a run of ten straight wins propelled them to the Bundesliga top spot.

6. It’s easy to see why Arsene Wenger regrets not signing Didier Drogba when he had the chance; the striker has scored eight goals in his last seven meetings with Arsenal.

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

Paul Hart’s good start, Boro’s strong home form and more

Five stats about this weekend’s football

1. Only Manchester United and Liverpool have taken more points at home than Tottenham since Harry Redknapp took over in October. Spurs have won seven, drew four and lost one of their twelve under the former Portsmouth boss.

2. Middlesbrough are now unbeaten in six league games at the Riverside and would be four points clear of the drop right now if only home results were taken into account.

Posted: April 14th, 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