Many got worried about Fulham’s performances this year, as they recorded 4 losses in that many league games. Their main problem is certainly the absence of many players which haven’t been available to manager Roy Hodgson for quite a while due to all kinds of injuries. The injury list consisting of Paul Konchesky, Simon Davies, Clint Dempsey, John Pantsill and Andy Johnson was “enriched” by Zoltan Gera, who got injured right before this match. It will be very tough for this squad to record one good result at their Craven Cottage after a series of bad results, as they will be facing a team with a burning desire to finally win. The only good news for coach Hodgson is the fact that newbies Nicky Shorey and Stefano Okaka will have the right to play, and make their debut for Fulham. As I’ve already stated, and I’ll repeat myself, Fulham’s players will be under great pressure before this clash. A new failure would create them big problems and internal conflicts, which really isn’t needed for a team that played first part of the season at a very high level. However, things are changing and they got caught into injury-problems, and still haven’t found the way to avoid that.
Fight for survival
Portsmouth’s players are aware they don’t have such a bad team this season at all. On top of all, they have excellent coach Avram Grant leading them, so this season’s results can simply be characterized as horrible. Nobody expected them to be by far the last-placed team after 23 rounds had been played. However, we have to take their current situation into consideration. Huge financial problems caught up the Pompey, who’ve been trying hard to get out of this crisis they’ve fallen into. It can’t be expected from them to play well when their club owes them a lot of money. They haven’t received their paychecks for a few times already, and the perfect example of how poor their situation currently is the fact their club board couldn’t even settle payments with the people in charge of their official web site, so their page was even down for a few hours at one point. All of that was confirmed by their board, so it all tells you what kind of problems they’re in right now – they’re simply fighting to survive. Before this clash, coach Grant can finally put a smile back on his face as trio Belhadj, Yebda and Dindane are all returning from ACN to the team and Grant will also have striker Kanu, while Hreidarsson, Brown, Smith and Diop will still be out. It’s clear the Pompey has to get back home undefeated; we’re also aware this team does have certain quality, which they haven’t been able to show due to some other external factors lately. There is still hope and I’m positive Grant and his crew won’t give up until the last round.
Pompeys will pull out a surprise
Portsmouth could very easily take an advantage of the fact their hosts are in big problems with absences before this game. Fulham’s injury list is way too long, which has brought only bad results to this team in 2010. The Pompey will be strengthened by the returning African players, which will certainly all start the match so an improvement in the visiting side’s play should be notable. Grant never gave up too early, he’s a great expert and is able to prepare his team, primarily in the psychological aspect with the intention of surprising Fulham at their Craven Cottage. We surely can’t say an away win or a draw would be a surprise. The Pompey can play well on a good day, and I don’t see why they wouldn’t do it this time. GL.
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Prediction:
Tip: 2 AH (+0.5)
Odd: 2.20
Bookie: Bwin
Stake: 8 /10
Tipster: Kather
