Portsmouth Football Club News

After suffering consecutive Premier League defeats, Pompey could do with a bit of Christmas cheer. And once the presents have been unwrapped, the turkey scoffed down and the Quality Streets unwrapped, Blues supporters will have just one thing on their minds: West Ham at home on Boxing Day and the chance to pick up three points. The omens are good for Pompey. They have yet to lose in seven Premier League clashes with the Londoners, with four victories and three draws. But since the Blues won promotion back to the top flight in 2003, they have also never lost on Boxing Day. So let’s take a look back over those results from Pompey’s Christmas past... 2003/4 – Pompey 2 Tottenham 0 Pompey won for the first time in over a month, climbing out of the bottom three thanks to two Patrik Berger free-kicks. The first came on 52 minutes with the former Czech Republic international firing the ball into the bottom corner of Kasey Keller’s net from 35 yards. His second arrived 16 minutes later, courtesy of a blistering strike from the edge of the area. 2004/5 – Crystal Palace 0 Pompey 1 Linvoy Primus scored the only goal of the game as Pompey claimed victory at an icy Selhurst Park in Velimir Zajec’s first match as full-time Blues boss. The Eagles missed several good opportunities to take the lead with Shaka Hislop saving well to deny Andy Johnson and Ben Watson. But Pompey broke the deadlock on 69 minutes when Primus headed home Patrik Berger’s cross for his first goal in 27 months. The result would have been more emphatic had it not been for several fine saves by Palace keeper Gabor Kiraly and a Ricardo Fuller shot that struck the post. 2005/6 – Pompey 1 West Ham 1 Struggling Pompey could only manage a draw against the Hammers despite completely dominating the first half. The Blues took the lead on 17 minutes when Gary O’Neil swept home Laurent Robert’s cross from wide on the right. But the visitors were level on 56 minutes when defender James Collins turned and shot through a crowd of players. Robert was sent off late in the game after picking up his second booking for a foul on Paul Konchesky. 2006/7 – West Ham 1 Pompey 2 Linvoy Primus was Pompey’s unlikely goalscoring hero with a first-half brace to inflict a first defeat on new Hammers boss Alan Curbishley. The first arrived on 16 minutes when the centre-back shrugged off Marlon Harewood’s weak challenge to power home Pedro Mendes’ corner. That was Primus’ first goal in exactly two years – but he did not have to wait long for another. On 38 minutes he met Mendes’ free-kick to head in his second. West Ham grabbed a consolation late in the game when former Blues striker Teddy Sheringham netted from a tight angle. 2007/8 – Pompey 0 Arsenal 0 Pompey battled to a goalless draw at Fratton Park and prevented their opponents from overtaking Manchester United at the top of the Premier League table. It was a game of few chances but David James did well to keep out Tomas Rosicky’s dipping first-half effort. Benjani Mwaruwari could have stolen all three points for the Blues when he latched onto Kanu’s through ball, but the Zimbabwe striker’s touch let him down and the danger passed. 2008/9 Pompey v West Ham?

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