Manchester City v Portsmouth: City to focus on top four finish

Debt-ridden Portsmouth travel to the multi-billionaires of Manchester City this afternoon looking for a miracle. The south coast club have more problems than Jay Z but it’s their history with City that is the most worrying aspect ahead of today. They haven’t won at City for more than 55 years and the Citizens haven’t lost at home since Fulham turned them over last April. It looks as though it is going to be another depressing trip back to the coast for Avram Grant and co.

Manchester City hearts were broken again at Old Trafford in midweek by yet another goal in Fergie Time. Rooney’s late header prevented City from a day out at Wembley but that hurt and anger should help them kick on in the league and FA Cup.

Birmingham City’s late equaliser against fourth placed Spurs yesterday would have been cheered roundly by the City fans, as that point leaves Tottenham just four points ahead of City, who have three games in hand. A convincing win today – like last season’s 6-0 thrashing – would see City rise above Liverpool into fifth place on goal difference.

But despite all of the doom and gloom around Portsmouth they are only two wins away from escaping the bottom three and they are yet to be beaten in 2010. However, even the most optimistic Pompey fan wouldn’t expect to gain any points here today. They are better organised now under Avram Grant but you have to wonder just what sort of state mentally the players are in after the club was reportedly late paying their wages again.

Portsmouth haven’t won away from home since beating Wolves at the start of October and surprisingly no-one in the Panel can see that changing this afternoon.

Manchester City v Portsmouth; Kick Off 1:30pm 31 Jan 2010

Prediction Panel

Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf).

Dave Blackburn : 4 - 0
Chris Cox : 4 - 0
Graham Enwright : 1 - 0
Sue Gardener : 4 - 2
Chris Goodwin : 3 - 1
Paul Grech (sqf) : TBC
Colin Illingworth (sqf) : 3 - 1
Hugh Larkin (sqf) : TBC
Peter Lee : 2 - 0
Don McMahon : 2 - 0
Antony Melvin (sqf) : 3 - 0
Paul O'Meara (sqf) : TBC
Dave Nash : 2 - 0
Stephen Orford (sqf) : TBC
Tony Ratton : 3 - 1
Peter Rendle : 2 - 1
Dan Taylor : TBC
Andy Wakeman : 2 - 0
Isaac Williams : TBC
Mark Williams : 3 – 0

Panel Verdict

A convincing home win for City.

Home: 14; Draw: 0; Away: 0; TBC: 6.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!