2011 hasn't been a good year in Pompey's history but there is an opportunity to see it out on a high with a result at Leicester on New Year's Eve.
Team News
Luke Varney faces a race against time to be fit for this match, having been given injections to speed up his recovery from a knee injury. Joel Ward limped off against Millwall but looks set to be fit, with Aaron Mokoena ready to take his place if he isn't.
Nigel Pearson will be looking to make changes to his side after his side drew 1-1 with Ipswich last time out. Andy King, Gelson Fernandes and Sean St. Ledger are pushing for recalls.
The Match
The Foxes are winless in four games and will be looking to end that run against Pompey who have been abysmal on the road since their last match at the Walkers (now King Power) Stadium back in March.
I can't say I'm too confident about getting a result here despite Leicester's failure to beat us back at Fratton Park last month and their stuttering form since then.
The reason for that is that, unless Michael Appleton changes his system, Pompey will struggle to create any chances and test opposition goalkeepers. In our last three games you could count the amount of genuine chances we've had to score on one hand. It's not good enough.
Getting Luke Varney fit to play may change that but I personally believe he won't be 100% and he'll be preserved for a more important game this Monday when Watford come to Fratton Park.
As we're struggling to score that puts extra onus on the defence to dig in and keep a clean sheet. To be fair to them, they've done well on the whole but are always prone to the odd lapse of concentration which they're always punished for.
There is hope in Leicester's poor form that we might sneak a result tomorrow but if I were you I wouldn't be counting on Pompey to provide you with a reason to celebrate on New Year's Eve.
Predicted Starting Line-Ups
Leicester
GK: Kasper SCHMEICHEL
RB: Lee PELTIER
CB: Sol BAMBA
CB: Matt MILLS
LB: Paul KONCHESKY
CM: Yuki ABE
CM: Richie WELLENS
CM: Andy KING
RWF: Paul GALLAGHER
LWF: Jermaine BECKFORD
CF: David NUGENT
Pompey
GK: Stephen HENDERSON
RB: Greg HALFORD
CB: Ricardo ROCHA
CB: Jason PEARCE
LB: Joe MATTOCK
RM: Liam LAWRENCE
CM: Joel WARD
CM: David NORRIS
CM: Hayden MULLINS
LM: Erik HUSEKLEPP
CF: Dave KITSON
Click here for the Fratton Faithful Leicester City Championship Profile page.
Last Time: Leicester City 0 Portsmouth 1 (Championship - 19/03/2011)
David Nugent scored early on in this drab affair as Yakubu and Gallagher missed golden opportunities to equalise. This was Pompey's last away win until the recent sucess at Burnley.
My Prediction
Two teams who aren't having the best of times will battle it out live on Sky TV but after watching the atrocity at Millwall I cannot predict anything other than defeat here.
Leicester City 2 Portsmouth 0