Last 8 beckons. Pompey preview

Last updated : 09 November 2004 By Michael Morris
City are looking to move into the last 8 of the League Cup for the first time since the 1965 / 66 season when City lost out 10 - 3 on agg to West Ham in the semi finals.

Cardiff are up against Premiership Portsmouth, a team who are doing well at home (last game a 2 - 0 win over Man Utd), but without a league win away from home this season (last game Villa 3 - 0 Pompey). The only away success came in round 3 of the cup at Tranmere.

Also a Pompey team with such an injury crisis they have recalled Gary O'Neil from Cardiff. O'Neil picked up a sore hamstring at Rotherham for Cardiff and is thankfully unable to play for Portsmouth against us. He should be fine for Portsmouth's local derby v Southampton this Saturday.

Another absentee for City will be Darren Williams. He is cup tied and his place in defence could be taken by Rhys Weston. Tony Vidmar is also available and Willie Boland will probably take over from O'Neil.

Pompey boss Redknapp said of O'Neil

"He needs to be playing first-team football at this stage of his career but Quashie and Amdy Faye have been doing so well for us in his position.

"We had an automatic recall agreement on him with Cardiff and I got him back after the injuries we picked up at Villa on Saturday. Unfortunately, though, he's got a hamstring problem and won't be fit for Tuesday night. I don't know yet how much longer he will be out."

Portsmouth are missing Steve Stone, Diomansy Kamara, Eyal Berkovic, Patrik Berger Nigel Quashie and Linvoy Primus. They have included fringe players Jamie Ashdown, Matthew Taylor, Brian Hughes and Aliou Cisse, all of who may start. Also included in the squad are youngsters Lewis Bixton and Anthony Pulis (son of Stoke boss Tony).

Pompey started at Aston Villa on Saturday with the following line up

Hislop, Primus, De Zeeuw, Stefanovic, Unsworth, LuaLua, Faye, Mezague, Quashie, Yakubu, Fuller.

Lennie may have to move the defence around. Tony Vidmar was picked ahead of Rhys Weston on the bench on Saturday and Vidmar could come into the defence to partner James Collins with Gabbidon moving to full back or Weston could come straight in to the right back position to allow Gabbidon and Collins to stay together. Willie Boland will take Gary O'Neil's place.

Possible line up

Warner, Weston or Vidmar, Collins, Gabbidon, Barker, McAnuff, Boland, Kavanagh, Ledley, Parry Lee. Subs Alexander, Weston or Vidmar, Bullock, Jerome, Anthony.

Lennie is not planning to rotate his squad as he has done previously. In previous rounds first team players have been rested but tonight will be the strongest line up available as City go looking for a Premiership scalp and a place in the quarter finals.

Tonights match kicks off at 7:45pm. Tickets are available all day for City fans. You can purchase a ticket right up until kick off time.

4th round matches

Tuesday 9th November
Arsenal v Everton
Burnley v Tottenham
Cardiff v Portsmouth
Watford v Southampton

Wednesday 10th November
Liverpool v Middlesbrough
Man Utd v Crystal Palace
Newcastle v Chelsea
Nottingham Firest v Fulham