Manchester City v Portsmouth
Football: England, Premier League 2009/2010
Sunday, 31st January 2010 - Kickoff 1:30pm

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Manchester City

Manchester City need to put the immense disappointment of losing a Carling Cup Semi Final to local rivals Manchester United behind them and concentrate on getting into the top 4. The future does look bright for City and they can still end their 33 year trophy drought in the FA Cup this season.

Saturday's football results have seen City fall down to 7th in the table, but their 38 points mean they are only 4 points behind Tottenham in 4th with 3 games in hand. While the points need to be gained, it is clear that the Citizens are in a prime spot to attack the traditional top 4. They are 7-3-0 here at the City of Manchester Stadium, scoring 26 goals and conceding 14. They remain, along with Chelsea, the only unbeaten sides at home this season.

The defeat on Wednesday was City's 2nd under Roberto Mancini in the 8 games he has been in charge of. However, they have won all 3 home games under the Italian, those results meaning they have won 6 in a row at Eastlands.

Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Adebayor could both start here and Wayne Bridge may also return to the backline.

Portsmouth

The dark clouds gathering over Fratton Park show no signs of disappearing and new problems emerged as it seemed players were now being sold without the blessing of manager Avram Grant or Chief Executive Peter Storrie. With payments to players again expecting to be delayed, it is hard to see this side surviving this season.

Portsmouth are bottom of the Premier League and find themselves 6 points from safety after the results this weekend. While they have games in hand over their rivals, there does not seem to be any indication that they will put the points on the board. Pompey are 1-2-7 away from home where they have only scored 5 goals while conceding 16. Only Stoke City have scored less on their travels in the Premier League.

They are unbeaten in their last 4 games, although 3 of those came in the FA Cup which is proving a little silver lining in a really tough season for the fans. Portsmouth have only won 1 of their last 6 Premier League games. They have failed to win any of their last 7 away games in all competitions and have lost 4 of their last 5 in the Premier League away.

David James is expected to start in goal as Asmir Begovic looks to be moving on. Jamie O'Hara is back on loan from Tottenham and Quincy Owusu-Abeyie is hoping to gain clearance to play.

Head to Head

Manchester City have only lost 1 of their last 5 matches with Portsmouth at home or away.

City have never lost in Manchester to Portsmouth since the south coast returned to the big time. In fact, Portmsouth have lost 4 of their last 5 visits to Manchester City and last season were beaten 6-0 here.

Prediction

Manchester City are developing into a real quality side, and remind me a little of Chelsea under Gianluca Vialli when they were very good away but could not bring that same performance to away games. They are making Eastlands a real fortress where they are unbeaten in all competitions this season and also have the real form player of the moment in Carlos Tevez.

Portsmouth are lurching from one crisis to another, and there are strong rumours that Avram Grant will walk in the near future. It is hard to see how motivated the players will be with their team-mates being sold left right and centre and an early goal for City could open the floodgates.

I cant see anything but a home win here and I feel City can win this by a couple of goals.

The Pick :

Manchester City 3-1 Portsmouth

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Manchester City WIN

HANDICAP BETTING :

Manchester City -1.5 Asian Handicap