Manchester City v Portsmouth: Can Sven Swerve the Bullet as Pompey Push for Fifth?
You know the score - as the end of the season approaches and hopes and challenges fade, more and more games, in all honesty, appear a little meaningless. However throw in a potential last gasp dash for fifth place for one team and a threat on the manager’s head for the other and the game is far from futile.
Sven Survival
City fans can only look back and remember their Brazilian-esque escapades that stunned so many in the first half of the season; 2008 however tells a much sadder story. Only five wins from their 17 games this year, City have also suffered embarrassing defeats to strugglers Birmingham and Reading not to mention their 1-1 draw with relegated Derby.
The dip in form has not gone unnoticed by the club’s owner Thaksin Shinawatra either who has made clear his feelings after saying, “I am not happy with the poor performance of the club in the second half of the season.” He has also hinted that Mr Eriksson will be likely to have his position “evaluated” come the end of the season after losing confidence in his manager. No pressure then Sven!
City do start the game coming in of a win though after Vassell grabbed a late winner against Sunderland with just three minutes to go last weekend. It was their first away win since the glorious day of 10 February when the blue side of Manchester finally had something to cheer about at Old Trafford.
Pompey love a-travelling
Portsmouth may not have the luxury of entering into the tie on the back of a win - having only a 0-0 draw with Newcastle under their belts - but this has done nothing to dampen their spirits. And why should it? They’re FA Cup finalists (and favourites), sixth in the league with fifth place, in their own words, “there for the taking.”
That’s right, question marks now hang over Everton’s guarantee of fifth spot. A meagre four points is the difference as Pompey league status has continued to soar following wins against West Ham, Wigan and Villa in recent weeks.
They also appear to have no problems on the road; so much so results indicate they prefer to distance themselves from the home comforts of Fratton Park. Pompey have actually won more games on the road than they have at home and boast more away triumphs than Arsenal, Liverpool and Everton - all of whom left Eastlands with one point minimum.
That said trips to Manchester - both City and United - haven’t brought much success for them. Their last record league win away to City came four days prior to Martin Luther King’s infamous “I have a dream” speech in August ‘63!
Pundit’s Pick: Portsmouth’s dreams of fifth are given a fighting chance (away win). Do you agree with this result for your Premier 10 prediction? Play Now>>
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Tags: Manchester City, pompey, Portsmouth, Premier 10 Match Previews, Premier League football, the Blues
