Portsmouth v Leicester Preview

Posted Tuesday, September 21, 2010 by BBC.com

Portsmouth v Leicester
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Tuesday, 21 September 2010

Carling Cup third round
Venue: Fratton Park Date: Tuesday, 21 September Kick-off: 1945 BST
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 live, BBC local radio & highlights on The League Cup Show

TEAM NEWS
Portsmouth are still without defender Hermann Hreidarsson, who is sidelined with an Achilles tendon injury.

Skipper Aaron Mokoena returned from a leg injury to face Sheffield United on Saturday, and came through unscathed.

Leicester City manager Paulo Sousa is expected to make changes to his side for the game.

Strikers Steve Howard and Paul Gallagher made an impact after coming on as substitutes against QPR, and may be handed starting places.

MATCH PREVIEW
This is one of two all-Championship ties in this round of the League Cup, and the competition is perhaps a welcome distraction from these clubs' problems in the league. Portsmouth are bottom of the table, while Leicester are only two places above them.

Since beating Crystal Palace in the previous round, Pompey's woes have continued and they have drawn one and lost three of their last four matches. Quarter-finalists last season, they are looking to reach the fourth round for the third time in six years.

Since winning the trophy in 2000, Leicester have reached the fourth round only twice. A place in the last 16 would be a boost, but their immediate priority is addressing their poor results in the league.

Apart from their first-round victory against Leeds, City have won only one match since Paulo Sousa took over as manager. They were showing signs of real promise, however, before being beaten 2-0 at home by Queens Park Rangers on Saturday.

MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head

• This is the 60th competitive meeting of these clubs. Leicester have won 31 and Portsmouth 17 of the previous 59, with 11 drawn.

• They last met in the Premier League in 2003/04, when the Foxes won both games.

• The clubs have faced each other twice in the League Cup. Leicester beat Pompey in the second round in 1975 but were knocked out by them at the same stage two years later.

Portsmouth

• Portsmouth have reached the quarter-finals of this competition three times, but have never been beyond that stage.

• They have failed to score in only one of their last 10 League Cup ties, but have kept only one clean sheet in eight.

Leicester

• Leicester have scored in every one of their 18 League Cup ties since losing 1-0 at Aston Villa in October 2003.

• The Foxes have won 12 of their last 17 matches in this competition.