Reading went out of the Carling Cup to Liverpool in the week, but there was no disgrace in that. After three defeats in a row in the Premiership we got the crucial victory over Wigan last week, now we have the difficult task of trying to follow this up at Fratton Park.
Vital Quotes: Steve Coppell
On the toughness of the Portsmouth match, “Yes they are good, they are strong, and they showed that last season. They’ve invested very heavily in the team.
“It will be a very difficult game for us, but it is an opportunity to put things right for us from last season where we got well beaten.”
Portsmouth Team News:
Kanu is doubtful, which is a plus for Reading but Benjani Mwaruwari and John Utaka are both expected to be fit, not such a plus especially Utaka.
Player to watch: John Utaka
His pace is electric, well it was against Bolton, but maybe they are just slow? So the fact that he has been passed fit is bad news for Reading, he will be a real danger.
Reading Team News:
Bobby Convey injured a leg in training, so is again facing time out just as it looked like he could be set to stake a claim. Glen Little, John Oster, Ibrahima Sonko and Peter Mate have been long-term injury problems, but Sonko in particular is inching closer to a return.
Player to watch: Marcus Hahnemann
The American has been in great form in the Reading goal this season and with the threat offered from John Utaka, and others, he will be tested again, but can he stand up to this challenge this is the question?
Match Facts & Stats
Match Facts & Stats courtesy of the BBC, Reading have not won at Fratton Park since a 2-0 win at second league level on 27 September 1997.
Home and away: League (inc PL): Portsmouth 16 wins, Reading 7, Draws 13
Prem: Portsmouth 1 wins, Reading 0, Draws 1
At Portsmouth only: League (inc PL): Portsmouth 10 wins, Reading 2, Draws 6
Prem: Portsmouth 1 win, Reading 0, Draws 0
Ref Watch:
Mark Halsey (Lancashire)
Match Prediction:
You always hope for a positive result even if you don’t think you will get it, so I will hope. We could get a draw but I would not be surprised to see Portsmouth win as they are very strong at home.
Next Fixture: Derby
@ The Madejski Stadium a week Sunday, 14.00.
If we come away with a point I will be happy, however we will have to be on the top of our game to get even that.
Where’s the confidence man, have belief and be positive. If we don’t Pompey have won before we even play!
mentally, pompey are weak, so if you can outphycke us, you could take all the points – that said, it will be very hard, and liverpool viewed a point at fratton a good result. there can be no better complent to us! (and no better if you scrape a win)
good luck for the season fellas – after today – but i think we could well give you a spanking today…
Fair enough if that is what you think, but you could be surprised!
…or not…
Congratulations on playing your part in the Premierships biggest goalfest, I said to my mate it could only have happened against Reading because of the open way you play, it was a cracker of a game, and fair play for playing the right way.
Fair enough, I was wrong but the Royals more than played their part in a quite amazing game! Good luck to Pompey this season, if you play anything like that more often than not then who knows where you will finish. If we also play like this more often than not then we will be mid table easily as you will not lose that many games away if you score that amount of goals.
was a great game, and play was all fluent and open. Thanks a lot Reading – if you had played a tight game, it would never have been…good luck competing for the rest f the season.
Thanks, it was a very special match, something that neither side will ever see again? You lot looked stunning coming forward and even though you conceded four goals didn’t look that bad at the back either, enjoy your season, I think it will be a great one.
That is the Royal way, it is greta to watch but we have to tighten up at that back or we could be watching this in the championship again, not that I am at all worried this will happen.
Not a chance, Reading will not be going down this season.
I wasn’t saying we might go down!