Brighton v Portsmouth preview

Posted Saturday, January 08, 2011 by skysports.com

Team news for Saturday afternoon's FA Cup third-round clash between Brighton and Portsmouth at the Withdean Stadium.

Chris Wood will be in the Brighton squad for the FA Cup south-coast derby against Pompey.

The teenage striker has extended his loan spell from West Brom until the end of the season and, having been denied permission to feature in the previous rounds, is now eligible to play.

However, new signing Craig Noone is cup-tied having already played in the competition for Plymouth.

Inigo Calderon serves the final game of his three-match ban so assistant boss Mauricio Taricco should continue at right-back despite suffering a nasty cut to the shin against Exeter on Monday.

Manager Gus Poyet intends to make changes with goalkeeper Peter Brezovan set for another run-out along with Lewis Dunk, Tommy Elphick and Jamie Smith.

Portsmouth on the other hand will be without Greg Halford and Ricardo Rocha.

Halford is suspended after Pompey's appeal against his red card at Watford last Saturday was unsuccessful.

The full-back will sit out his three-match ban at parent club Wolves after his loan expired, although Pompey would like him back for the rest of the season.

Centre-half Rocha faces two weeks on the sidelines after aggravating a hamstring injury against Hull on Monday so two of Joel Ward, Hermann Hreidarsson and Ibrahima Sonko will come into the back four.

Striker Dave Kitson has not trained all week due to a sore foot but should be available.

Midfield duo Michael Brown and Richard Hughes appear to have played their last game for the club after their contract offers were withdrawn this week.