Preview: Portsmouth v United

April 06, 2007

ALL ACTION: Patrice Evra is back for the Reds

PATRICE Evra is set to return to United's squad for the Premiership clash with Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

The France defender has missed United's last six games with a knee injury but Sir Alex Ferguson is optimistic Evra will be available for the trip to the south coast.

Chasing the first of five wins from seven games that will clinch the title, United stayed on in Italy after Wednesday night's Champions League loss to Roma, so the bulk of Ferguson's squad will be the same.

On-loan Chelsea defender Glen Johnson (knee) is struggling to make the Portsmouth side.

But Noe Pamarot is fit again after a thigh injury and will challenge Lauren for the right-back position. Pedro Mendes is still out recovering from an ankle operation.

Manager Harry Redknapp may pick one from Lomana LuaLua, Svetoslav Todorov or Benjani Mwaruwari to partner Kanu up front or he could give the Nigerian a solo role in front of a five-man midfield.

Portsmouth (from): James, Lauren, Primus, Campbell, Stefanovic, O’Neil, Davis, Hughes, Kranjcar, Taylor, Kanu, Traore, LuaLua, Benjani, Pamarot, Todorov, Mvuemba, O’Brien, Ashdown.

Manchester United (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Brown, Heinze, Evra, Ronaldo, Fletcher, Scholes, Carrick, Giggs, Richardson, Eagles, Rooney, Smith, Solskjaer, Saha, Dong.

Last season: Portsmouth 1 United 3

Key opponent: Kanu - Unpredictable forward can grab a goal out of nowhere

Prediction: Portsmouth 0 United 1 - The midweek clash at Roma is bound to have taken its toll, but the Reds should have just enough to get through

Agree with the prediction? Have your say.

You can get 6/1 on United winning 1-0 with Betfred. For this and more odds, click here.

| Submit Comments | Comments (15) |

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seasider, blackpool (06/04/2007 at 15:07)

No one is saying much about Park's injury. Anyone know if it's serious?

charbel (06/04/2007 at 16:46)

Give Carrick and Rooney a rest, start with: 1, 22, 4, 5, 6, 7, 18, 24, 11, 9, 14.
Rooney and Ole can come off the bench, with Evra or Carrick too, if needed.

Gerry, Glastonbury (06/04/2007 at 16:49)

Scholes better have a blinder on Saturday and next week in the semi against Watford or he's off my Christmas card list!
I think he's just 2 bookings away from a ban in the premiership so let's see if he's learnt his lesson?
Park has a knee injury. I've not heard how long he's likely to be out for. Isn't it funny how some said he just wasn't good enough but now they want him fit?

de Meester, netherlands (06/04/2007 at 17:28)

WIN, that's all there is to it!
They are going to give us a hard game and they are fresher than we!!
We simply have got to win, but without fear!
During that Roma game we were crying out for the solid CM.
It is evident we really need to sign a strong midfielder, either try for Stephen Appiah (Fenerbaçhe)in summer , would be fabulous or Manuel Fernandes (at Everton on loan)!!
Back to Portsmouth, UI would leave Louis on the bench with an eye on tuesday!
As for defence give evra a start!
Cpme On You Reds

Mick, Dublin (06/04/2007 at 18:35)

Apparently Park travelled with the squad. Which isgood news. My prediction? A point. The game in Rome will have taken a lot out of the team and we'll have an eye on the return leg. Pompey are a tough nut to crack at home too. So, with all that in mind, a draw would be a decent result.

Demo, Glossop (06/04/2007 at 19:18)

great news to have evra back. just read that park is out for a couple of weeks. a win here is vital especially wi chavski playing tottenham. my line up would be vds, pe, gh, rf, wb, rg, mc, ps, cr, wr, ls but i doubt he will move brown to right back and heinze into centre back. evra needs some match time before tuesday and gabby didnt look great against roma at times! it will be a tough game but i think united 2 portsmouth 0 hopefully rooney will bag a couple to give us ultimate confidence prior to tuesday night. come on the reds

Dan (06/04/2007 at 20:12)

i am slightly concerned at the moment with the injury list. From now to the end of season, we have a midweek game every week. I know chelsea has the same but we are losing players and their's coming back .... I am just keeping fingures crossed and all prayers with the lads ....

Dan (06/04/2007 at 20:13)

For all of those asking about Park ... He is out for 2 weeks

Gerry, Glastonbury (06/04/2007 at 23:27)

We simply can not afford to put too weak a side out against Pompey, even though they're not playing that well at present.
Evra, Scholes, Saha & Fletch & maybe Smith at some stage are certainties I would have thought. Giggs will be rested for sure which may give a game to Richardson. Carrick could have a rest for Fletch as Scholes is as fresh as a daisy! Rooney just loves to play so I can't see him being left out, nor can I see Ronnie not starting or at worst on the bench. Brown & O'Shea are pretty certain to start so Heinze may be on the bench. We simply have to win as Chelsea have found Spurs difficult this season so there could be an added bonus!!!
I think we'll win well personally but the Roma game coming so quickly on Tuesday does concern me.

VALTINHO, LISBON (07/04/2007 at 06:24)

Ronaldo needs a rest...but can United afford that? The major problem for United at this stage is the poor squad....and three important competitions....no bench at all: I mean KR, fletcher and Smith warming up in a CL match and Oshea and Brown in the first 11 showes signs of poor investment. I would go for the PL to start with and then the CL. FA cup is not as important as the others and I would change around key players like Ronaldo and Rooney.

hunny, Seoul (07/04/2007 at 06:34)

Is that true Park travelled with the squad ? Probably which means his injury is not serious though it takes a time to look at what happened in his knee
now it is time to kill two birds with one stone Roma and Pompey Up the reds!

Fredrik, Sweden (07/04/2007 at 10:06)

I hope you are wrong Mick, we can ill afford to draw this game. Everything depends on the Chelski game of course, if they lose we can even afford to rest Ronaldo and Rooney, but I expect them to win 1-0. I'm really dreading the Everton game, I think we'll lose some points there so we can't give anything away today.

redmark, manchester (07/04/2007 at 11:36)

i predict a goal fest in this game all utds way so there for i predict 4-0 utd all the way come on the red army.
Utd till im gone.

Sean, NYXMC (07/04/2007 at 13:58)

I'm with redmark on this Ronaldo is due a goal, Rooney will be up for it, Scholes will want to make good, Saha will be desperate to make up for lost time, and if Smith or Ole come on, they'll be playing for a place on Tuesdays bench. 1-5 (0-1 will suffice, though...)

seamus vanisle ex-stretford (07/04/2007 at 17:25)

All of our remaining away games are tough, this one Everton, Citeh and Chelski,if we can get 8 or 9 (even 6 points wouldn't be the end of the world) from these games, then with our home schedule we'll be fine as we should win all of those. The Pompey game is the one that bothers me more than any of the others, especially coming off a tough Euri game, with another one ahead, we need to be sharp, especially as Chelski managed to win today.Rooney & Saha up front, I expect Fletcher(aargh!) in CM with Carrick, so Ronnie & Giggs out wide. Back four JOS, Wes, Rio and Evra(if fully fit). Smudger & Ole on the bench.

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