Portsmouth v Bristol City - 7M sport

Portsmouth v Bristol City



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Posted Tuesday, September 28, 2010 by BBC.com

Npower Championship
Venue
: Fratton Park Date: Tuesday, 28 September Kick-off: 1945 BST
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 live, BBC local radio & highlights on The Football League Show

TEAM NEWS
Portsmouth will again be without Richard Hughes, who sits out the second game of a two-match suspension for his recent sending-off against Leicester.

Fellow midfielder Hayden Mullins will need to be assessed ahead of Tuesday's match after hobbling out of last week's spectacular 6-1 win over the Foxes.

Bristol City could give a debut to defender Steven Caulker.

The England Under-19 international has joined the Robins on loan from Tottenham for the rest of the season.

MATCH PREVIEW
Having emphatically claimed their first Championship win by demolishing Leicester 6-1, Portsmouth are hoping to draw a line in the sand after a series of woes on and off the pitch. Recent signings Dave Kitson and Liam Lawrence both scored twice in that victory and have added real quality to what was a threadbare squad.

Pompey's problems have been well documented, but with players like Kitson, Lawrence, John Utaka, Michael Brown and Hayden Mullins, they are not short of quality and experience, and have every reason to believe they can climb the table.

A victory on Tuesday night would take them above Bristol City, who sit just above the bottom three and have won only one game this season, but did battle to a credible 0-0 draw at Burnley on Saturday.

That result was a much needed morale booster for the Robins following three consecutive defeats. City have also been helped by the arrival of Tottenham's highly-rated youngster Steven Caulker, who has added to their defensive options.

MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head

• This is the 50th competitive meeting of these clubs.

• Portsmouth knocked City out of last year's FA Cup, but have not managed a victory in the club's eight most recent league games against them.

Portsmouth

• Pompey are averaging a goal per game, having scored eight goals from their eight league matches this season.

• Steve Cotterill's side have failed to score in five Championship games this term. Only Crystal Palace have failed to score in more.

• On-loan defender Ibrahima Sonko is awaiting his 250th career start.

Bristol City

• Bristol City have one point and one goal from their last three league games.

• Goalkeeper David James is set to face his former club.

• All but one of their six points so far this season have been secured away from home.

• Six points after the first eight matches makes this their worst start for five seasons.

• No club have used more players in Championship matches this term than City, who have fielded 24.

• If selected, Liam Fontaine will be making his 150th start for the club.



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