Portsmouth Preview

By Mark Heys
December 29 2006

Bolton aim to record their fifth straight victory when they take on fellow European chasers Portsmouth at the Reebok Stadium tommorow afternoon.

Since losing to Reading at the start of the month the Wanderers have remained undefeated and hope to end the year on a high when they come face to face with this seasons surprise package Pompey, who themselves remain unbeaten so far this month.

Bolton have conceded just three times in the last six matches and have kept clean sheets in three of their last four matches to give them one of the best defensive records in the Premiership.

The Trotters have also found their scoring boots too with nine goals scored in the last four games and record signing Nicolas Anelka in pretty tantalising form of late.

Bolton boss Sam Allardyce is without long term injury casualties Joey O'Brien and Quinton Fortune. Other than that he has a full squad to choose from and his line up is likely to remain unchanged from the one which gained victory over Newcastle United on Boxing Day.

Pompey manager Harry Redknapp could rest top goalscorer Nwankwo Kanu so either Benjani Mwaruwari or Andy Cole could come in for the former Arsenal and West Brom favourite.

Striker Lomano Lua-Lua and experienced defender Dejan Stefanovic remain on the sidelines until the New Year with thigh and knee injuries respectively and will therefore not travel to the North West.

PREMIERSHIP RECORD

26/08/2003 PORTSMOUTH 4 (Stone, Sheringham 3) BOLTON WANDERERS 0

17/01/2004 BOLTON WANDERERS 1 (Davies) PORTSMOUTH 0

27/11/2004 BOLTON WANDERERS 0 PORTSMOUTH 1 (De Zeeuw)

07/05/2005 PORTSMOUTH 1 (Yakubu) BOLTON WANDERERS 1 (Diouf)

24/09/2005 BOLTON WANDERERS 1 (Nolan) PORTSMOUTH 0

01/02/2006 PORTSMOUTH 1 (Karadas) BOLTON WANDERERS 1 (Fadiga)

25/09/2006 PORTSMOUTH 0 BOLTON WANDERERS 1 (Nolan)

PREMIERSHIP FORM GUIDE:

Played: 7

Won: 3

Drawn: 2

Lost: 2

CONNECTIONS

Brian Bromley, John Gregory, Trevor Hebbard, Russell Hoult, Paul Ritchie

IT HAPPENED WHEN BOLTON PLAYED POMPEY

Ex-Manchester United and England striker Teddy Sheringham scored a hat-trick against Bolton in the first Premiership meetings between these two sides back in August 2003.

Bolton's El-Hadji Diouf was banned for three matches in November 2004 due to spitting at opponent Arjan De Zeeuw who is now back at Wigan Athletic.

Wanderers skipper Kevin Nolan scored a sublime overhead kick a year ago as Bolton claimed their first Premiership home win against Pompey.

Khalilou Fadiga netted his one and only Bolton goal when these two teams met at Fratton Park last season. The Senegal midfielder scored straight from the set piece to give Bolton the lead but Azar Karadas equalised for Portsmouth five minutes from the end

In September this year, the Wanderers gained their first away league win in nine months of trying when Kevin Nolan scored a volley against Portsmouth at Fratton Park