Sunderland v Pompey preview

Keane: Seeking a response

PREDICTIONS:

Skysports.com prediction: Sunderland 1 Pompey 1
Sky Bet odds: Sunderland 11/8 Draw 12/5 Portsmouth 15/8
One to Watch: Kenwyne Jones
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Sunderland will be out to prove a point against Portsmouth following their 5-0 thrashing by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

Roy Keane's men were dismantled by Nicolas Anelka and co last week while Pompey slipped to a late 2-1 defeat to Wigan in Tony Adams' first home game at the helm.

Sunderland's second consecutive defeat has left them just a point above third from bottom Bolton. Portsmouth sit two points and six places higher than the North East club.

The Black Cats beat Portsmouth 2-0 on home soil last season courtesy of a Kieran Richardson brace but the season before the South Coast outfit ran out surprise 4-1 winners.

McCartney doubtful

Keane could make an enforced change for the visit of Pompey with left-back George McCartney doubtful with a foot injury collected in last week's drubbing.

Goalkeeper Craig Gordon is still struggling with an ankle problem, so Marton Fulop is likely to continue, although the Hungarian has the worst saves to shots ratio in the Premier League at 53 per cent.

Djibril Cisse could be drafted into the starting XI to partner Kenwyne Jones up front. Keane will definitely be without Michael Chopra after he was loaned to Cardiff City.

One of Sunderland's main tactics could be to fire in as many crosses into Pompey's area as possible with David James dropping the most catches of any keeper so far this term.

Adams' bow at Fratton Park failed to go to plan last time out as Emile Heskey struck at the death to give the Latics a surprise 2-1 win which came hot on the heels of their reverse at Liverpool in his first game in charge.

Same again

The former Wycombe boss is unlikely to tinker with his 4-4-2 formation, meaning Jermain Defoe and Peter Crouch are set to lead the line at the Stadium of Light.

Croatia international Niko Kranjcar could be handed a start in place of on-loan Armand Traore after scoring as a second half substitute in the defeat to Wigan.

Glen Little (hamstring) and David Nugent (groin) are unlikely to play any part in Saturday's Premier League clash.

Possible starting XIs

Sunderland: Fulop, Chimbonda, Ferdinand, Nosworthy, McCartney, Diouf, Whitehead, Tainio, Malbranque, Jones, Cisse.

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Belhadj, Davis, Diarra, Bouba Diop, Kranjcar, Defoe, Crouch.