Match Preview – Portsmouth v Chelsea – Defoe Likely To Start For Pompey – Lampard Hope For Blues

Ninth-place Portsmouth take on title contenders Chelsea, who are on a five-game winning run in the Premiership, at Fratton Park on Saturday.

Harry Redknapp is likely to start with his deadline day signing Jermain Defoe, who has moved from Tottenham Hotspur, up front. Also, loan-signing from Lyon, striker Milan Baros is also eyeing up his home debut.

Avram Grant, whose side are just four points behind leaders Manchester United, has no new injury concerns and could even have a boost in the form of midfielder Frank Lampard playing some part tomorrow after being in training.

The West London club are without Salomon Kalou, Michael Essien, Mikel John Obi and Didier Drogba on account of their international duty in the African Cup of Nations. Skipper John Terry (fractured foot), Andriy Shevchenko (back) and Ricardo Carvalho (suspended for collecting five bookings) are all out.

For Pompey, centre-back Sylvain Distin is doubtful due to a hamstring problem, which he suffered in the midweek defeat at Manchester United. As such, Noe Pamarot is set to deputise and Hermann Hreidarsson getting into the starting XI.

Teams

Portsmouth (from): James; Johnson, Pamarot, Distin, Hreidarsson, Davis, Diarra, Hughes, Pedro Mendes, Kranjcar, Baros, Defoe, Benjani, Diop, Mvuemba, Lauren, Aubey, Wilson, Begovic.

Chelsea (from): Cech, Cudicini, Hilario, Ferreira, Belletti, Alex, Ben-Haim, Ivanovic, A Cole, Bridge, J Cole, Wright-Phillips, Sidwell, Ballack, Pizarro, Lampard, Anelka, Malouda, Sinclair, Makelele.