Portsmouth Team News

By: Richard Hubbert
Date: 30/01/2003

TOWN face a long journey down to division one leaders Portsmouth on Saturday in the middle of a cold British winter and a miserable run of form that has not seen the Mariners win since Boxing Day.

But despite the toughness of the task, the Mariners do have some good news to celebrate. Cape Verde International George Santos has returned to full fitness and will probably be thrown into the starting eleven after missing the last four games with a hamstring injury. He may well replace defender Simon Ford who has started 17 of Town’s last 19 games and is showing signs of tiredness. Alternatively, Santos could return in the centre of midfield.

Left back Tony Gallimore could return at full back while John McDermott, will definitely start after recovering from the bout of tonsilitis that kept him out of Town’s game against Bradford last week. Gallimore meanwhile, will have to battle it out with Darren Barnard for a place at left back. Barnard himself has an ankle injury but it is anticipated that he will still join the squad. If Barnard does make it, he could return on the left of midifield with Stuart Campbell is central midfield with Chris Bolder dropping to the bench. Up front, Steve Livingstone will probably continue in attack with Michael Boulding before serving his three game ban for his controversial sending off last week.

Portsmouth meanwhile, will give a debut to Spurs midfielder Tim Sherwood who has signed until the end of the season from the London Club. Experienced midfielder Steve Stone will miss out after pulling up in Portsmouth’s last league game at Brighton on January 18th. Strikers Mark Burchill and Yacuba Ayegbini are both vying for a starting place after both scoring in Pompey’s midweek reserve game but may have to settle for places on the bench.

Probable Teams:

Town: Coyne, McDermott, Gallimore, Chettle, Santos, Cooke, Barnard, Groves, Campbell, Livingstone,Boulding.
Substitutes: Bolder, Ward, Ford, Mansaram, Allaway (GK)

Portsmouth: Hislop, Foxe, Primus, Taviardis, Taylor, Sherwood, Merson, Quashie, Pericard, Todorov, Diabate.
Subs: Crowe, Harper, Burton, Ayebini, Kawaguchi (GK)

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