Portsmouth-Chelsea Preview: A Potential Banana Skin Down On The South Coast?

Chelsea kick off their Carling Cup campaign tomorrow night with a tie away to Portsmouth at Fratton Park. Below I preview the game and predict a final score.


Initial Thoughts and Points of Interest


Recently, Luiz Felipe Scolari said that all competitions matter equally to his Chelsea side, and we’ll see just how much the Carling Cup matters in this game.

The likes of Ferguson and Wenger have used the competition to blood promising youngsters, while Chelsea have used it to give squad players some playing time.

The likes of Beletti, Ivanovic, Ferreira, Di Santo and Sinclair will be hoping for some game time in this fixture.

Glen Johnson will play against his former club, but Lassana Diarra will miss out through injury.

An upset could be on the cards, but the odds of a shock have been cut with Portsmouth’s mounting injury problems—Harry Redknapp has revealed that he only has 17 players fit for the game (see Team News).

Team News


Chelsea: Portugese duo Deco and Carvalho both miss out after picking up injuries before and during the game against Manchester United respectively. Carvalho will be out for around a month, while Deco will miss around two weeks of action.

Michael Essien will also miss out after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament on international duty.

Portsmouth: Lassana Diarra has been denied the chance to test himself against his former club after he was ruled out of the game with a ligament injury. Sean Davis and Papa Bouba Diop will also miss out.


Recent Form


Chelsea: They remain undefeated this season, after Salomon Kalou earned Chelsea a deserved point on Sunday against Manchester United.

Arsenal have overtaken the Blues at the top of the Premier League, and Scolari’s men will be intent on reaching the league summit again and holding on.

Portsmouth: Harry Redknapp will want to forget about Sunday’s game against Manchester City as soon as possible. Such a defeat can demoralise players and Harry will have to pick them up for this clash.

His side sit in 13th position, with two wins in five games. They also hold the advantage in their UEFA Cup tie with Portuguese side Guimaraes, winning 2-0 at Fratton Park.


Quotes

Striker Didier Drogba is looking forward locking horns with former team mate Lassana Diarra. As well as playing together at Chelsea, the duo were also on the books of French side Le Mans.

“When I was in Le Mans he came there and I knew him, so it has been a long, long time. He was 13 or 14 I think,” said Drogba.

The Ivorian had kind words on the diminutive Frenchman’s ability, comparing him to ex-Chelsea team mate Claude Makelele.

“For me Lassana could be the next Makelele, but he also has more to his game and he likes to go forward as well.”

As for his aims for the future, Drogba was pretty unequivocal.

“I feel good, and just need to play more games and to score goals. That's it.”

Meanwhile, Chelsea manager Luiz Felipe Scolari is confident the club can cope with a mounting injury list.

Michael Essien ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament on international duty, and the Blues emerged from the weekend’s clash with Manchester United having also lost Ricardo Carvalho and Deco to injury.

"We lost these two players and we will replace them with other players, it is not a problem for us," Scolari told Chelsea TV.

"Maybe these players play very well, better than Deco and Ricardo, I hope. Life continues."

Harry Redknapp also has his fair share of injuries problems going into the game, and admits that Chelsea will be able to put out a strong side.

"They (Chelsea) always seem to have a go in this competition. They have been in the final three times out of the last four years,” Redknapp said.

"But with their squad, they can afford to have a go at everything with the people they can bring in.

"We've got a load of injures. Diop has torn a hamstring, Davis has torn a groin muscle and they are out for a few weeks at least.

"Diarra has got a bad knock on his knee and it could be the ligament, so we are desperately short in midfield.

"We've got another game [at home to Tottenham] on Sunday, then the UEFA Cup return in Portugal on the Thursday [against Guimaraes]. Then it's Sunday again. I've only got 17 players who are anywhere near fit.


Prediction


This has the potential to be a banana skin for the Blues, but they should come through it, given Portsmouth’s numerous injuries.

2-1 Chelsea is my call.

Let me know your thoughts ahead of the game by leaving a comment below.