With the international games out of the way, the latest round of Championship matches take place this Saturday as Portsmouth travel to West Ham United, having drawn 1-1 in their last home game against Cardiff City where a late equaliser from Kanu earned them a point.
Since the last game, the transfer window has now shut and Pompey’s only addition to the squad was that of youngster Jed Wallace who was signed from Ryman Premier League side Lewes for free. In comparison opponents West Ham were far busier in the market and saw their talisman midfielder Scott Parker depart to London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in a deal believed to be worth in the region of £5 million. Whilst it’s unfair to claim that last season West Ham were a one man team in the Premier League last season, the PFA Player of the year Scott Parker’s sale will have a huge impact on the club it’s safe to suggest after his performance levels were consistently head and shoulders above some of his colleagues in a season which saw ex-Pompey boss be relegated from the Premier League for a second successive campaign with both clubs having finished bottom of the league. Not something that you really want on your CV.
West Ham have well documented financial problems off the field with debts thought to be in the region of £100 million. A poor season last time around saw Avram Grant be replaced in the summer by ex-Blackburn Rovers boss Big Sam Allardyce. Many faces will be familiar to both sets of fans with new West Ham signing Papa Bouba Diop pushing for a starting place after being released by AEK Athens. Freddie Piquionne is another name familiar to Pompey fans after achieving cult status with the Fratton fans during his spell with the club the season before last though Pompey fans will be hoping he doesn’t manage to find the net against his old club. Two Pompey players who were huge fan favourites during their time with the club who now find themselves in the ranks of the claret and blue squad are Matty Taylor and Gary O’Neill who signed from Bolton Wanderers and Middlesbrough respectively. I’m sure the away travel will give the latter two players an especially warm welcome after many fans thought the then manager Harry Redknapp was wrong in his choice of selling both players. Pompey defender Tal Ben Haim should keep his place in the starting line up for Pompey on Saturday having spent the first part of last season on loan with West Ham. Hayden Mullins will be another ex-West Ham face on show if he can shake of the knock he picked up in the game at Cardiff which kept him out of the pre-season friendly with Real Betis which saw a largely young and inexperienced Pompey side thrashed 5-1 away from home.
The international break wasn’t a total success for the Pompey boys in action it has to be noted. TBH was dismissed during the week for Israel as they crashed to a 3-1 defeat to Croatia. Norwegian Eric Huseklepp failed to find the net in either of his appearances whilst Liam Lawrence sat out both of the Republic of Ireland games on the substitute’s bench. With their return to the club, Pompey boss Steve Cotterill should have a full squad to choose from if Mullins recovers from his knock. SC has let academy players Lewis Stockford and Chinedu Vine go off on a month’s loan to Salisbury and Hayling Island.
In a BBC survey carried out recently, West Ham were awarded the honour of being the most expensive day out in the Championship although Pompey were only one place behind them in that list. Despite the fact that adult ticket prices are £36 for the game Pompey at the time of writing only have a handful of tickets left on sale for the game so SC’s side will be boosted by a strong and vocal support to cheer them on as they search for their first away victory of the season after drawing their opening two games to Middlesbrough and Bristol City.
Fifth placed West Ham will be hoping that their poor home form will turn around having failed to win since their relegation. They lost the opening game of their campaign to a 91st minute winner against Cardiff City. They failed to beat Leeds United and drew 2-2 having again conceded in the 91st minute and found themselves knocked out of the Carling Cup to lowly Aldershot town who scored an 89th minute winner to win 2-1. Are you seeing a pattern immerge here at all?
Away from home however and West Ham have been far more formidable opponents. A 1-0 win at Doncaster was followed up by a 4-0 demolition of neighbours Watford before racking up a similar score line when they beat Nottingham Forest 4-1. Manager Sam Allardyce will have been grateful for managing to keep hold of striker Carlton Cole who remains West Ham’s goal threat having scored three this season already. The striker capped at international level by England had been linked with a move to Stoke who instead turned their attentions to ex-Pompey boy Peter Crouch who they signed from Tottenham Hotspurs.
West Ham are offering their youngsters the chance to see the match for just one pound sterling when accompanied by a paying adult – some might call it kid for a quid but I find the term quite crass so will be avoiding that one, but with nearly all Pompey’s away allocation sold, there’s bound to be a cracking atmosphere to the match.
With West Ham struggling for home form and Pompey still looking for their first away win of the season it’ll be interesting to see how this game pans out result wise. On paper it’s got a draw written all over it and Steve Cotterill will have to show a more positive formation if they are to come away with a win. Given West Ham’s record so far of conceding goals this season I have a horrible thought that Pompey might play a 4-5-1 formation for 88 minutes before switching to a 4-3-3 in a last ditch attempt to unlock the visitors defence. I’m sure the travelling faithful wouldn’t mind if it comes off but I think looking to the game and the quality that West Ham have in their side not just with the ex-Pompey players and Carlton Cole, but boosted by names such as Kevin Nolan, Robert Green, David Bentley and Henri Lansbury who was in fine form for the England Under 21s in their last game, a draw would be a good result for Steve Cotterill’s men and I’d take the point if offered now. However we live in hope that we’re not the ones to turn around Big Sam’s men’s home day blues.
Play Up Pompey
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