Mon 25th Aug - Fratton Park
By Chris Burton Last updated: 4th July 2008
Nugent: Better prepared
David Nugent is looking to banish the memories of his dismal first season in the Premier League.
The Portsmouth striker struggled to adapt to life in the top flight following his big money move from Preston last summer, but is confident that he has the ability to be a success among England's elite.
Nugent concedes that he was hampered by injuries and a severe loss of form last year, but back to full fitness and raring to go he is looking forward to erasing some painful memories from the not-so-distant past.
"Speaking on a personal level, last season was a disaster, really," the one-cap England international told The News.
"My fitness, my injuries, the lack of games I played - none of it helped and it's fair to say I was disappointed with it all.
"It didn't help that I signed two weeks into pre-season training last year. From then on I was playing a bit of catch-up with the other lads.
"Now I can start from scratch and from day one show the gaffer what I can do.
"Obviously you always want to be fit but I feel I was lacking in my fitness last season and that is something I have really worked on.
"Now I am fitter and stronger than before.
"I feel good and I'm going to give my all to get into the team. I have to play games.
"Last season others were scoring, such as Benjani and then Jermain (Defoe), so I couldn't argue with that.
"But I've got to try my hardest this season and show the gaffer what I can do.
"I really want to have a good pre-season - and I think I will. This will be my season."
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Saturday 30th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Everton vs Portsmouth |
| Saturday 13th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough |
| Sunday 21st September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Man City vs Portsmouth |
| Sunday 28th September | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Portsmouth vs Tottenham |
| Sunday 5th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Stoke |
| Saturday 18th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Aston Villa vs Portsmouth |
| Saturday 25th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Fulham |
| Wednesday 29th October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Liverpool vs Portsmouth |
| Saturday 1st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Wigan |
| Saturday 8th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Portsmouth |
| Saturday 15th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | West Ham vs Portsmouth |
| Saturday 22nd November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Hull |
| Saturday 29th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Blackburn |
| Saturday 6th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | West Brom vs Portsmouth |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Monday 25th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Portsmouth 0 - 1 Man Utd | |
| Sunday 17th August | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Chelsea 4 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Monday 11th August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Gosport Borough 1 - 4 Portsmouth | |
| Sunday 10th August | |
| FA Community Shield | |
| Man Utd 0 - 0 Portsmouth | |
| Tuesday 5th August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Havant and W 0 - 4 Portsmouth | |
| Monday 4th August | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Oxford Utd 1 - 2 Portsmouth | |
| Sunday 27th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Portsmouth 1 - 2 Man Utd | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | West Ham United | 2 | 3 |
| 17 | Tottenham Hotspur | 2 | 0 |
| 18 | West Bromwich Albion | 2 | 0 |
| 19 | Wigan Athletic | 2 | 0 |
| 20 | Portsmouth | 2 | 0 |
Come this way for James Dall's pointers as week three of Sky Sports' Fantasy Football arrives.
The latest Fantasy Football weekend is over. Lewis Rutledge looks at where points were won and lost.
Portsmouth's 1-0 win over Manchester United in 2004. Can you name the mystery starting XI?
Harry Redknapp is pessimistic about his chances of signing Atletico Madrid midfielder Thiago Motta.
The transfer window isn't going to shut for good anytime soon so get used to it, says Andy Gray.
The fixture compilers clearly have a sense of humour, sending Liverpool to Aston Villa just before the transfer window closes.
Everton welcome Portsmouth to Goodison Park aiming to pile the misery on Harry Redknapp's men.
Standard Liege face a quickfire return to Merseyside after drawing Everton in the Uefa Cup first round.