West Ham v Pompey preview

Zola: Striker crisis

PREDICTIONS:

Skysports.com prediction: 0-3

SKY BET odds: West Ham 6/5, Draw 9/4, Portsmouth 23/10

One to Watch: Kevin-Prince Boateng

Bet on Boxing Day's match

Related links

Teams

• Portsmouth
• West Ham United

Also see

• Sky Sports experts
• Transfer Centre
• Fantasy Football
• Sky Sports Twitter

The Premier League's bottom two meet at Upton Park on Boxing Day as West Ham host relegation rivals Portsmouth.

While Gianfranco Zola's Hammers continue to toil, Pompey are a side on the up after a dramatic upturn in their home form.

Avram Grant's side deservedly beat Liverpool last time out while West Ham battled bravely in holding league leaders Chelsea.

This is a fixture neither side can afford to lose as it is against a direct rival while the odds are already against Portsmouth as they are bottom at Christmas.

West Brom remain the only side to have been bottom over the festive period after staging an unlikely second half of the season comeback and retain their top-flight status in the 2004/05 campaign.

West Ham news

Zola faces a striker crisis for the visit of Grant's troops as Italian forward Alessandro Diamanti is his only recognised goalscorer.

Guillermo Franco picked up an injury in training on Wednesday and is set for a short spell on the sidelines.

With Dean Ashton retired and Carlton Cole, Kieron Dyer and Zavon Hines sidelined through injury, 18 year old Frank Nouble and ex-Spurs youth team starlet Terry Dixon are his only two options.

The Italian will also be without experienced defender Danny Gabbidon after he picked up a hamstring injury.

The defender lasted just 19 minutes of the 1-1 draw against Chelsea last time out and it looks as though he will be on the sidelines until the early part of the New Year.

James Tomkins who replaced Gabbidon on Sunday is likely to keep his place in the side and will partner Matthew Upson who returned against Chelsea and has shown no ill effects from his hamstring problems.

Valon Behrami is closing in on a return to fitness following a knee injury and although the game against Pompey could come too soon for him, he could play a part in the festive period.

Pompey

Grant could have England international David James back for their crucial game against fellow strugglers West Ham.

The vastly-experienced shot-stopper has trained this week but is still nursing a calf injury. Second choice keeper Asmir Begovic will continue to cover between the sticks if he fails to make it.

Manager Grant has no further injury worries, although Kanu, Hassan Yebda, Nadir Belhadj and Aruna Dindane could all play their last game before joining up with their national sides for the African Cup of Nations.

Belhadj should keep his place in the side after a lively display against the Reds last time out that included scoring the opening goal of the game at Fratton Park.

Possible starting XIs

West Ham: Green, Ilunga, Tomkins, Upson, Spector, Parker, Noble, Kovac, Faubert, Nouble, Diamanti

Pompey: James, Finnan, Kaboul, Ben-Haim, Hreidarsson, Belhadj, Brown, Boateng, O'Hara, Yebda, Piquionne