Portsmouth v Wigan preview

Pompey look to extend their eight-match undefeated home run

By Steve Pass   Last updated: 28th March 2008

campbell sol

Campbell: Returns

Predicted Score: Pompey 2 Wigan 2
SKY BET ODDS: Portsmouth 8/11
Draw 9/4
Wigan 10/3
Bet on Saturday's match

Related links

Teams

Also see

There should be fireworks at Fratton Park on Saturday as Portsmouth entertain Wigan.

Pompey players have an outside chance of fifth place in the league and will be wanting to impress boss Harry Redknapp with FA Cup semi-final places up for grabs.

Wigan, meanwhile, are fighting for every point they can get in the battle against the drop.

Steve Bruce has set a target of 38 points for the Latics and they are still seven points from that goal, with seven games to play.

But they are inching to safety, having been unbeaten in four before last Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Blackburn.

That run included creditable draws against Arsenal and Manchester City and victories over relegation rivals Bolton and Derby.

But Portsmouth are in good form themselves, winning four of their last six in the league.

And, after an indifferent start at Fratton Park, they are now unbeaten at home in eight games, back to the 1-0 defeat to Middlesbrough on 29th December.

Team news

England defender Sol Campbell is back for Pompey after he missed the clashes with Aston Villa and Spurs with a knee injury.

But Redknapp will be without the suspended midfielders Sulley Muntari and Papa Bouba Diop.

He may also rest attacking midfielder Niko Kranjcar, who has missed just one game for Pompey since August and scored for Croatia against Scotland in midweek.

Wigan have a midfield headache as Jason Koumas, Michael Brown and Wilson Palacios are all suspended, while Antoine Sibierski is also doubtful after sustaining a calf injury.

To fill in, Bruce may have to push Paul Scharner up from the back.

Shot-stopper Chris Kirkland is fit to play after receiving intensive treatment on his back this week following his injury against Blackburn which forced him to pull out of England's midweek game against France.