Analysis:

Manchester City will want to bounce back from the agony of going out of the Carling Cup as they welcome Portsmouth who are in crisis. After beating Scunthorpe last weekend as well as the two legged semi-final with Manchester United it is back to the Premier League action for Manchester City.

City's dream has been shattered after Wayne Rooney's stoppage-time winner secured a 4-3 aggregate win for United. They still have the FA Cup to look forward to having won 4-2 at Scunthorpe to set up a fifth-round tie with Stoke, with United, Arsenal and Liverpool already out.

But first on their mind will be to get their Champions League qualification hopes back on track after losing 2-0 at Everton in their last Premier league game. Last season when they met, City hammered Portsmouth 6-0. Carloz Tevez is also in red hot form as his goal at Old Trafford took his recent tally to a remarkable 14 in 12 games.

For Portsmouth, much of the attention has been off the fierld events. They too are in the FA Cup fifth round after beating Sunderland 2-1 last Saturday, while a 1-1 draw at home to fellow strugglers West Ham followed on Wednesday.

They have been beset by financial problems and their official website was temporarily shut down on Thursday due to an unpaid bill. Then chief executive Peter Storrie admitted his position was 'almost untenable' after he and manager Avram Grant were left out of negotiations to sell goalkeeper Asmir Begovic and defender Younes Kaboul to Tottenham to ease their financial woes.

And with the team five points adrift of safety at the bottom of the table the decision to offload more key players will not be good news to Pompey faithfuls.

As for the team news, the home side City will not have record signing Robinho, who has rejoined Santos on a six-month loan deal in a bid to gain regular first-team football. The Brazilian dropped down the pecking order due to the superb form of Tevez and Craig Bellamy. With Emmanuel Adebayor back in the side, there will be even more compeition in the side.

The striker came off the bench against United for his first start since the gun attack on the Togo team bus before the African Cup of Nations. Ivory Coast defender Kolo Toure could start this match although fellow defenders Joleon Lescott and Wayne Bridge (both knee) remain out.

Roque Santa Cruz (calf) is still sidelined while new signing Patrick Vieira is also battling to overcome a calf problem and will not be fielded.

As for the visitors, their first target after the transfer embargo was Spartak Moscow striker Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, although he is unlikely to be available for Sunday. The former Arsenal and Birmingham player is set to move to Fratton Park on loan until the end of the season. but it also depends on his international clearance.

Midfielder Jamie O'Hara has returned for another loan spell from Tottenham while David Nugent is back from his stint at Burnley. The Clarets are hoping to agree another loan deal for the striker but he will be available to face City for now.

Take Manchester City to win here.

Cheers and good luck,
Cruiser

The Statistics :

The Pick :

Manchester City 4-1

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Take Manchester City to win here.

HANDICAP BETTING :

Take Manchester City and give the 1 1/2 ball here.