Monday, November 30, 2009

Portsmouth v Aston Villa

Portsmouth    v    Aston Villa

    Carling Cup quarter-final
    Venue: Fratton Park Date: Tuesday, 1 December 2009 Kick-off: 1945 GMT
    Coverage: BBC Sport website, full match commentary on BBC Radio 5 live extra and BBC Radio Solent & highlights on The League Cup Show

    TEAM NEWS

    Portsmouth will be without Jamie O'Hara, Kevin-Prince Boateng, Mike Williamson and forward Tommy Smith, who are all cup-tied.

    David James (calf) and Steve Finnan (groin) are again likely to miss out.

    Aston Villa are hoping Nigel Reo-Coker (ankle) and Stephen Warnock (illness) will return, but James Collins is still sidelined with a calf problem.

    Goalkeeper Brad Guzan could start as reward for his penalty-saving heroics in the previous round at Sunderland.

    MATCH PREVIEW

    Portsmouth's players are enduring a miserable season but have the chance to make club history by reaching the semi-finals of the League Cup.

    Grant optimistic about Pompey prospects

    Pompey, who have never been in the last four before, have been knocked out at this stage four times.

    And in order to go one better this time, they will have to beat a club with outstanding pedigree in this competition.

    Only Liverpool have won the cup more times than five-time champions Villa. However, Martin O'Neill's side have stumbled through to the last eight this season, scoring just one goal on their way to this tie.

    Portsmouth, on the other hand, have managed 11 goals in this tournament - as many as they have scored in the Premier League all season.

    MATCH FACTS

    Head-to-head

    • These clubs have only met in one previous League Cup tie: a two-legged second-round encounter in 1983, which Villa won 5-4 on aggregate.

    • Villa are vying for a third successive victory over Pompey, who they beat 2-0 in the Premier League earlier this season.

    606: DEBATE
    Have your say on the game

    Portsmouth

    • Pompey go into this tie on a three-match losing run in the Premier League. They have scored twice and conceded eight times in those matches.

    • They last reached the quarter-finals of the League Cup in the 2004/05 season.

    • Jamie O'Hara could make his 100th club career appearance.

    Aston Villa

    Pompey have been playing well - O'Neill

    • This is Villa's best run in the competition since 2003/04, when they reached the semi-finals for the 12th time in their history.

    • Martin O'Neill's side have lost one of their last nine league and cup matches.

    • Steven Sidwell could make his 300th club career appearance.

    о 2:04 AM

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