Battle of the Ports – Pompey vs Argyle preview (FA Cup Round 4)

My grandmother has a lot to answer for. Getting my old man born so close to FA Cup Round 4 day was always going to present problems for his family, and so it has proved. Due, therefore, to my being obliged to host my dad’s 60th birthday celebrations, I shall not be where I had intended to be, viz Fratton Park roaring on the mighty Greens. The match report will have to be based on Sparksy’s commentary and the usual forty-five seconds on MoTD.

All of Argyle’s frenetic spending this week will count for naught. Neither Jamie Mackie (£145,000) nor Gyorgy Sandor (loan with option to buy) are available for selection – Mackie because he is cup-tied; Sandor because he is carrying a knock. Romain Larrieu may keep his place in goal, despite the news of a discovery of a small growth in his abdomen. Larrieu, who successfully fought off testicular cancer at the beginning of the 2006-07 season, has been told that he will be out for 6-8 weeks after surgery and the club have been at pains to reassure fans that it his condition is neither serious nor life-threatening. For which relief much thanks – and of course we wish Romain the speediest of recoveries, once surgery does take place.

At the back, the only doubt is Marcel Seip, who may not have recovered from his groin problem in time. The midfield is the area which may come under most scrutiny – other than Halmosi on the left, it is not at all clear how Argyle will line up. The Norris saga rumbles on: but as of now (3.20 pm Friday) Sturrock expects him to play. In the centre, Clark, Folly, Nalis and Abdou compete for two places: don’t be surprised to see one or other of the new boys in there. Up front, Rory Fallon will presumably keep his place after his stand-out performance last Saturday, complemented, one imagines, by the pace of Jermaine Easter. That makes the Argyle teamsheet look something like this:

Larrieu

Connolly
Doumbe (assuming Seip unfit)
Timar
Sawyer

Norris
Nalis
Clark
Halmosi

Fallon
Easter

McCormick
Folly
Hodges
Abdou
Jutkiewicz

As for Pompey, despite missing several key players at the African Nations Cup, the news that Sol Campbell is likely to be fit is a blow for Argyle. I have the suspicion that Nugent and Benjani up front will be too much for us, especially if Seip fails his fitness test. Still, 3200 loyal Pilgrims will be there to roar the boys on – and it is, after all, the FA Cup. A replay next Tuesday week at HP would go down very nicely, thank you. COYG!

Category: Team News

Tags: Team News

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