Alan Hansen’s Premier League Picks: Portsmouth v Manchester United
Portsmouth’s season took yet another twist when manager Paul Hart was dismissed only to be replaced by Avram Grant this week. Pompey remain bottom of the Premier League and now Grant faces the reigning champions in his first match. Funnily enough, he faced Manchester United in his last match as a manager in the 2008 Champions League final while with Chelsea.
Grant faces a monumental task leading the South-coast club to both safety and to a win this weekend. The team will be encouraged by their head to head record with United at Fratton Park as well as their opponent’s problems away from home this season. All of Sir Alex Ferguson’s team’s three defeats have come on the road with the Red Devils having lost their last two without scoring. United have not lost three away games in a row since New Years Day 1996. Now Portsmouth are hardly at Liverpool or Chelsea’s level but it increases belief that they can win nonetheless.
Pompey boast a record of three wins in their last six home league games against United (two defeats). However, the last win was back in April 2007 as the Red Devils have drawn and won their last two visits to Fratton Park. This includes a 1-0 success last season when Darren Fletcher scored the only goal. Needless to say, United don’t usually enjoy their South-coast trips. Despite this, Sir Alex’s team have won the last three league meetings home and away with Pompey without conceding.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW
Despite Portsmouth’s position, I am surprised at the timing of Hart’s dismissal as the players had shown the willingness to work for him and results had improved. However, successive defeats at Blackburn and Stoke ended his time in charge. Pompey have won their last two matches at Fratton Park in league and cup in impressive fashion. Two 4-0 wins over Stoke (Carling Cup) and Wigan (PL) should give the players plenty of confidence and the new manager in charge factor may prove inspirational.
Despite United not showing anything like the form we’d expect from them, I still cannot back against them this weekend. Pompey may have picked up just three fewer points than Manchester United’s ten in the last six matches but the champions are still a class act. This may be a tighter match than many anticipate but I’m backing United on Premier 10 this weekend with a £45,000 rollover up for grabs. I’m afraid Avram Grant’s latest meeting with Sir Alex will end in the same way as the last, in defeat.
Tags: Alan Hansen, Manchester United, Portsmouth, Premier 10, Premier League
