EPL: Manchester United vs Portsmouth - 4 Nov

last SG · 2006-11-04T23:39:59+00:00

Report of the match: http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={B4CEE8FA-9A47-47BC-B069-3F7A2F35DB70}&newsid=376698

used SG

vs

1055 LIVE ON

Despite portsmouth good run of late, i expect manu to bounce back from their midweek loss

Dead_Man_Inc SG

whats with the devil logo just now? Laughing

Killer Tomatoes SG

man u draw

Dead_Man_Inc SG

maybe Rolling Eyes

but saha, gary neville and evra might be back although ole out for a few weeks.. maybe smith will be playing too?

used SG

where's my devil logo? Sad

Ben_Ng69 SG

Take Man Utd win 1-0/2-0 (D-A) Cool

precipice SG

i predict a draw.

Ben_Ng69 SG

believe it or not. ROONEY will score again Cool

bazi SG

Theater of dream will roar…....

CKeer SG

Laughing
I find it awful leh so no choice i changed to the original.

Cheers.
C.K

Dead_Man_Inc SG

Laughing

iceFatboy SG

I expect full team to be playing.

with ole out, we are now one striker down..

with smith, not even match fit, SAF must think of future, and allow AS to play more.

And in order for that to happen, MUFC needs to win.
and I believe Portsmouth, will experience the wrath.

The man who was death SG

draw!!

can expect andy cole to score

zocoss SG

STEFANOVIC WARNS UNITED

Portsmouth captain Dejan Stefanovic has warned Manchester United his team have never had a better chance than Saturday of a shock victory at Old Trafford.

Despite injuries which have taken out Linvoy Primus and Glen Johnson from Pompey's outstanding defence, Stefanovic believes his team are oozing confidence after their record-breaking start to the Barclays Premiership season which has brought them a place in the top four.

And although United have dropped just five points and lead the league, Stefanovic believes Harry Redknapp's team are capable of snatching their first-ever Premiership point at Old Trafford.

"We are playing very well, we have excellent players, we are scoring goals. "We definitely have the talent and are more confident than ever. This time I know we can get something from the game.

Striker Benjani (knee) and midfielder Gary O'Neil (pelvic strain) are doubts but Sean Davis, dropped against West Ham and Chelsea last month, should retain his midfield place.

The last time Pompey escaped from Old Trafford with a draw was a 2-2 encounter in January 1994 but it has been nearly half a century 3-0 triumph there in October 1957.

used SG

manu hot fav at 1.22 Shocked

Dead_Man_Inc SG

Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville and Louis Saha are all fit to return against Portsmouth after missing United's midweek defeat in Copenhagen.

Giggs has recovered from a hamstring strain, Neville has overcome a troublesome calf injury and Saha is okay after receiving a knock on the knee. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, however, is likely to be out for around four weeks after sustaining a partial hamstring tear in Denmark.

"Ole had a scan on Thursday and thankfully it's only a partial tear, He'll be out for a maximum of four weeks, but we initially thought seven weeks so it's good news."

"Everyone else is fit [apart from ankle victim Ji-sung Park] and I expect to field the same team that played against Bolton," he added.

Harry Redknapp's side arrive at Old Trafford on the back of six wins out of ten and in fourth spot in the Premiership. Sir Alex has nothing but praise for the job Redknapp has done at Fratton Park since his return last December and believes his ability to get the best out of experienced players is the key behind his success.

"I think he's been very clever in the way he's constructed his team," explained Sir Alex. "He's brought in players with great experience and great success behind them like Andy Cole, Kanu, Sol Campbell and David James and they have all responded.

"Fourth in the league is probably better than Harry expected but nonetheless they're there. I think it'll be an open game on Saturday," he added. "Hopefully we can continue our run of good form in the league."

zocoss SG

Man Utd v Portsmouth

Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville have been declared fit to face Portsmouth as Manchester United look to maintain their position at the Barclays Premiership summit.

REFEREE
Mike Dean

Manchester United (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Neville, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Silvestre, Heinze, Evra, OShea, Fletcher, Ronaldo, Scholes, Carrick, Jones, Giggs, Richardson, Rooney, Saha, Smith.

Portsmouth (from): James, Pamarot, OBrien, Campbell, Stefanovic, ONeil, Pedro Mendes, Davis, Taylor, Benjani, Kanu, Lualua, Cole, Fernandes, Kranjcar, Thompson, Hughes, Koroman, Kiely.

Dead_Man_Inc SG

Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville have been declared fit for Manchester United after missing the FC Copenhagen defeat.

Striker Louis Saha will return to the starting XI with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer carrying a slight hamstring tear.

Portsmouth's defence will feature two new faces with Andy O'Brien and Noe Pamarot replacing injured duo Linvoy Primus and Glen Johnson.

Sean Davis has recovered from a bout of flu, while Gary O'Neil and Benjani Mwaruwari face late fitness tests.
__________________________________

Manchester United defender Gary Neville on boss Sir Alex Ferguson's 20th anniversary at the club:
"It would not surprise me if he was to go on for five to 10 years.

"Why should he leave? He's as determined as ever.

"It's a continual challenge to be at this club. I know that from being a player, I know that from being a fan. That will keep him young.

"There was a period when people were talking about him retiring but that has gone away.

"It is a void you cannot fill, whether you leave this club as a player or a manager. It is impossible, losing that excitement, that thrill."

Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp:
"We are short of numbers at the back even though defensively we have been very good this season.

"It is when you lose key players that you begin to struggle and I'll probably look to add one or two in the next transfer window.

"But Andy O'Brien has always done a sound job and we need him to do that."
__________________________________

MANCHESTER UNITED SEQUENCES/RECENT FORM:

1st 25 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 1st
Lowest could fall, mathematically: 2nd

1. Sir Alex Ferguson, who'll be 65 on the last day of 2006, sends out a Manchester United side for the 1,109th time in all competitions, and 780th in top flight football. Their League record under him is won 444, drawn 197, and lost 138, picking up 1,529 of 2,337 points (65%). In the 20 years, United have picked up 18 major trophies (the Premiership eight times, the FA Cup five times, the League Cup twice, the Champions League, the Cup Winners Cup and the Uefa Super Cup. In addition, they've won the Inter-Continental Cup and the Charity/Community Shield five times).

2. Wednesday's defeat in Denmark ended a seven-game winning run in all competitions.

3. Hoping to add to successive Premiership victories over Newcastle (h), Wigan (a), Liverpool (h) and Bolton (a). However if they only gain a point it will be United's 1,000th draw in their League history.

4. Boasting the highest number of top flight wins this season with Chelsea - eight each, the strongest attack (23 goals scored in 10 games) and the joint tightest defence of five goals conceded, with Chelsea and Arsenal (although the Gunners have only played nine games).

5. One of five clubs with just one top tier defeat, alongside Chelsea, Arsenal, Everton and Aston Villa. Also, one of three clubs yet to be awarded a penalty in this Premiership this season. The others are Watford and West Ham.

6. Dropped only five points from a home defeat to Arsenal and 1-1 draw at Reading. The loss to Arsene Wenger's team was United's only occasion in which they've failed to score in this League campaign.

7. Holding a 100% record when a Premiership clean sheet has been kept. Won all five matches, including the last two, and have not conceded in 265 minutes (four hours 25 minutes) of Premiership football, since Leighton Baines opener for Wigan at the JJB on 14 October.

8. Won all seven matches at top League level, in which United have opened the scoring.

9. Boasting the highest aggregate in the top table with their 10 matches yielding 28 goals (23 for, five against).

10. Four away matches follow this at Southend in the Carling Cup, Blackburn and Sheffield United in the Premiership and Celtic in the Champions League.

CLUB FACTS:

MANCHESTER UNITED
Louis SAHA and Ole Gunnar SOLSKJAER are United's joint leading scorers with six goals each. Wayne ROONEY is the club's leading scorer of Premiership goals with five.

ROONEY is a hat trick shy of 50 career Premiership goals (Everton and Manchester United).

Rio FERDINAND is the only player to have been on the field for every minute of every one of United's Premiership matches this season.

If he participates, David JONES will be playing on his 22nd birthday.

PORTSMOUTH
Nwankwo KANU is Portsmouth's leading scorer with seven goals. They are all Premiership goals, which makes him the highest scorer in the highest League, one ahead of Andrew Johnson of Everton.

Goalkeeper David JAMES is set to make his 104rd consecutive Premiership appearance (Manchester City and Portsmouth).

JAMES and Sol CAMPBELL are the only remaining players to have been on the field for every minute of every one of Portsmouth's Premiership matches.

Tresor Lomana LUALUA needs a hat trick to total 50 goals in English club football (Colchester, Newcastle and Portsmouth).

When next selected in the 11, David THOMPSON will be making his 150th career League start.

HEAD TO HEAD:

Home and away
League: Man United 22 wins, Portsmouth 16, Draws 12
Prem: Man United 4 wins, Portsmouth 2, Draws 0

at Man United only
League: Man United 16 wins, Portsmouth 6, Draws 3
Prem: Man United 3 wins, Portsmouth 0, Draws 0

LAST GAME:

Manchester United 3-0 Portsmouth
3 December 2005 - Ref: Chris Foy
Man United scorers: Scholes 20, Rooney 80, Van Nistelrooy 84

zocoss SG

10 mins

Man Utd 2 - 0 Portsmouth

Ben_Ng69 SG

but rooney nv score