Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough Preview

Last updated : 02 March 2012 By Jim Bonner

Pompey take on Middlesbrough tomorrow in what looks like likely to be one of the club's final fixtures at Fratton Park.

Team News

Liam Lawrence has been loaned to Cardiff in a bid to ease the financial crisis but Michael Appleton has some good news as Luke Varney and Kelvin Etuhu should be available after injury.

Dave Kitson returns after his one match ban whilst David Norris may also start after making a substitute appearance against Leeds last week.

Ex-Southampton winger Adam Hammill could make his debut for Middlesbrough tomorrow whilst Lukas "Scummer" Jutkiewicz should start. Kevin Thomson is back from suspension but may have to settle for a place on the bench.

The Match

There's not too much to say here other than turn up, support the team, create an atmosphere and enjoy the football.

After all, this could well be Pompey's final home game if Trevor Birch goes to court on the 9th of March and tells them that Portsmouth FC can no longer keep trading.

Boro will be tough as they've recently come out of their slump, possess some quality players like Barry Robson, Rhys Williams and Marvin Emnes and hold one of the best away records in the Championship.

On the contrary, Pompey are struggling to score, don't create many chances but still show the passion and the stomach for a fight. We do have the ability to "outfight" Tony Mowbray's men if the game turns into a scrap.

It'll also be interesting to see if Luke Varney plays if he is fit. He would add some much needed pace into the team and could get behind the Boro backline. Etuhu's return would also be timely as he is clearly a key player if we're to get out of a relegation scrap.

That's if the club survives long enough to see it until the end...

Predicted Starting Line-Ups

Pompey

GK: Stephen HENDERSON

RB: Tal BEN-HAIM

CB: Ricardo ROCHA

CB: Jason PEARCE

LB: Greg HALFORD

RM: Kelvin ETUHU

CM: Hayden MULLINS

CM: Joel WARD

LM: Scott ALLAN

SS: David NORRIS

CF: Marko FUTACS

Middlesbrough

GK: Jason STEELE

RB: Joseph BENNETT

CB: Sebastian HINES

CB: Matthew BATES

LB: Justin HOYTE

RM: Barry ROBSON

CM: Rhys WILLIAMS

CM: Julio ARCA

LM: Adam HAMMILL

CF: Marvin EMNES

CF: Lukas JUTKIEWICZ

Last Time: Portsmouth 0 Middlesbrough 0 (Championship - 12/03/2011)

Hermann Hreidarsson hit the crossbar with a header and Dave Kitson had one cleared off the line in an otherwise dire affair.

My Prediction

This will be a difficult game but I think the Pompey players have shown they're up for a fight. If players return to the side, I think we can get a result albeit against a decent Boro outfit.

Portsmouth 1 Middlesbrough 0