Bolton v Portsmouth Premier League Preview: Can The Trotters get Back To Winning Ways Against Pompey?

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Bolton Wanderers play Tony Adams’ Portsmouth in the Premier League at the Reebok Stadium on Saturday.

The Trotters might go into this clash on the back of two straight defeats to Chelsea at the Reebok and then Aston Villa 4-2 at Villa Park last weekend, but won four of their previous five Premiership games, which earned Bolton boss Gary Megson the Barclays Manager of the Month award for November. However, Bolton have only won twice in the league at home this season and have only managed to score 6 times in front of their own fans, which is a cause of concern for Megson. Bolton, are 11th in table and will hope to collect all 3 points against Portsmouth.

Pompey were soundly beaten last time out 3-0 by Newcastle United at Fratton Park, but were unbeaten in their five league games before that. With, wins against Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers and draws with West Ham United, Hull City and West Bromwich Albion. While Bolton have found goals hard to come by at home, Portsmouth have struggled to find the net away from home and go into this clash 3 points above Bolton in 8th place in the Premier League.

Gary Megson has almost a full squad of players to choose from for this clash with Pompey, with only Joey O’Brien (thigh) and long-term injury Ricardo Vaz Te (knee) unavailable for the game at the Reebok on Saturday.

Portsmouth will be without Lassana Diarra, who is on his way to Real Madrid in January, while Glenn Johnson (knee), Younes Kaboul (ankle) and John Utaka (thigh) are all in a race to be fit in time to face Wanderers.

Bolton Wanderers: (from) Jaaskelainen, Samuel, Nolan, Cahill, Muamba, Taylor, Elmander, Smolarek, Gardner, Davies, Steinsson, Riga, McCann, Al Habsi, Shittu, Cohen, Sinclair, Fojut, Harsanyi, Basham, A O’Brien, Sissons, Obadeyi

Portsmouth: (from) James, Kaboul, Lauren, Johnson, Hreidarsson, Diop, Crouch, Nugent, Thomas, Defoe, Distin, Pamarot, Utaka, Mvuemba, Kranjcar, Ashdown, Hughes, Campbell, Duffy, Little, Sahar, Kanu, Davis, Christophe, A Traore, Begovic, D Traore, Wilson, Belhadj

Sunderland v Portsmouth Premiership Preview: Keane & Adams Resume Old Rivalries From The Dugout

Sunderland Play Tony Adams’, Portsmouth in the Premier League, at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

Roy Keane will be hoping the Black Cats can bounce straight back from last weekends 5-0 drubbing to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, which emphasised the gulf in class between Sunderland and the top sides. However, Sunderland boss Keane is slowly building a squad in the North East, which is more than capable of competing in the Premiership and will relish the chance to pit his wits against former adversary on the pitch Adams. A win is vital for the Black Cats as they sit just one point above the bottom three.

New Pompey boss Adams never settled for anything less than 100% as a player for Arsenal and will not have liked being beaten 2-1 at Fratton Park by Wigan Athletic last weekend in his first match in charge. Adams will be looking forward to locking horns again with Keane as they face each other as managers for the first time. Pompey have not won in their last four games in the Premiership and Adams knows the importance of a win if the South coast club are to keep pace at the sharp end of the league.

Sunderland will be without David Connolly (groin) and Darren Ward (back), with record signing goalkeeper Craig Gordon likely to recover from a sprained ankle in time to face Pompey. Striker Kenwyne Jones could start in attack with Djibril Cisse, with Nyron Nosworthy and Anton Ferdinand likely to be Keane’s chosen central- defender pairing. Michael Chopra rejoined Cardiff City on loan this week.

Adams is unable to call on striker David Nugent, who is a week away from fitness with a groin problem, while fringe player Glenn Little could be fit in time for the visit to the Stadium of Light if he can shake off a hamstring injury.

Sunderland: (from) Gordon, Nosworthy, Ferdinand, McCartney, Malbranque, Leadbitter, Whitehead, Bardsley, Cisse, Richardson, Diouf, Miller, Murphy, Collins, Jones, Yorke, Reid, Chimbonda, Healy, M’Voto, Hartley, Fulop, Waghorn, Dowson, Meyler, Prica, Colgan

Portsmouth: (from) James, Johnson, Distin, Campbell, Belhadj, Kranjcar, Utaka, Diarra, Defoe, Crouch, Kaboul, Lauren, Hreidarsson, Diop, Thomas, Pamarot, Mvuemba, Ashdown, Hughes, Duffy, Sahar, Kanu, Davis, A Traore, D Traore, Wilson, Little