Preston North End versus Portsmouth
Sunday 17th February 2008
FA Cup Fifth Round
Deepdale, 4pm kick-off
This is the kind of tie that sums up exactly what the FA Cup is all about. Second tier v top tier, north v south, Scottish gaffer v English gaffer, legend v former club. It's the last of those duels that's of keenest interest to most impartial viewers, but more about the return of the Nuge later...
Deepdale will be rocking on Sunday afternoon as the eyes of the world's media turn their attentions on our famous old stadium, with preparations to turn the Invincibles Pavilion building site into a TV friendly zone having been taking place throughout the week.
It means that the cameras will be training their lenses on the three completed sides of the stadium, and it's up to you guys to fill the remaining few seats and create an intense atmosphere akin to Pompey's own Fratton Park.
Buy your seats via MyPNE.com at any time up to the close of play on Saturday evening, with the ticket office open all day Friday and Saturday, plus from 10am until kick-off on Sunday.
North End could be strengthened by the return to availability of Matt Hill, who missed Tuesday's trip to Colchester on paternity leave as he became a father for the third time. Missing, however, are the suspended Sean St Ledger - who sits out a one game ban for his dismissal in midweek - and the cup tied Neal Trotman. It means that Youl Mawene will more than likely return at centre half to partner Liam Chilvers, with the remaining choices all coming down to Alan Irvine's personal preference.
Pompey could welcome back Sylvain Distin (hamstring) and David Nugent (hernia) from injury, but Noe Pamarot (knee) misses out. Lucien Aubey - on loan from Lens - could come in to replace Pamarot, though Harry Redknapp also has the option of switching Hermann Hreidarsson to left back and bringing Distin back into the centre. New signing Jermain Defoe is cup tied and Benjani has completed his move to Manchester City (making a goalscoring start last weekend), so the south coast side will lack quantity - but not quality - when it comes to attacking options.
FA Cup Fifth Round
PNE are just one win away from their first quarter final appearance since 1965/66, when Manchester United came out on top in an Old Trafford replay, but first we've got to see off the threat of Premier League high fliers Portsmouth. Recent history - e.g. the fourth round 4-1 victory away at Derby - shows that it can be done, with North End shaking off the hoodoo of 29 years without a victory over a top flight side with that result. It'll be tough, and the memory of last season's loss to Manchester City at the same stage will be fresh in the mind, but Preston can play with belief and freedom after some fine showings at times since the turn of the new year.
The other fifth round ties feature a further five Premier League sides, seven Championship outfits, and a pair of League One battlers. We're going to stick our neck out and predict a Preston win (well, we have to say that, don't we?), and we can also expect be be joined in the quarter finals by Cardiff, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Sheffield United, Southampton and West Brom. Beg to differ? Head along to pnebetting.co.uk and check out all the odds...
Ones To Watch
Neil Mellor
A scorer against Colchester in midweek and still probably seen as the long term replacement for David Nugent if he can battle his way into a regular starting spot.
Mells is currently beginning to attract something of a 'supersub' tag with all the goals he's been scoring and creating from the bench, but he'll be keen to get a chance from the start as the former Liverpool man re-acquaints himself with top flight opposition.
Currently sitting in the joint leading scorer's position with Karl Hawley and Simon Whaley, the grand stage provides an ideal platform for Mells to show his worth. He scored in front of the Sky TV cameras eleven months ago when Southampton were defeated 3-1, and let's hope he's the man to inflict another miserable journey home on our latest Hampshire opposition.
David Nugent
Who else could we possibly choose for this slot? He scored goals, he created goals, and all-in-all he provided great memories for the North End faithful.
He's currently on the home straight in his attempts to recover from the hernia operation which he underwent a fortnight ago, but will he be fit enough to recover in time to play this Sunday? Given his super-human healing qualities, as witnessed when it really mattered in the Play-Offs two seasons ago, we reckon he certainly will, albeit from the bench.
With Milan Baros and Nwankwo Kanu likely to be the starting duo, expect Nuge to be itching to get off the bench - and not just because of the stitches in his midriff following the operation. What happens from there is exactly what the Sky cameras have come to find out...
Last Time Out
Colchester 2 Preston 1
PNE: Lonergan, Jones, St Ledger (sent off 68), Chilvers, Davidson, Sedgwick (Mawene 71), McKenna, Carter, Whaley (Chaplow 78), Brown, Hawley(Mellor 77).
Bolton 0 Portsmouth 1
Pompey: James, Lauren, Campbell, Hreidarsson, Pamarot (Aubey 27), Hughes, Diarra, Diop, Kranjcar (Utaka 74), Baros (Kanu 46), Defoe.
Head-To-Head
Pompey currently lead the FA Cup head-to-head 2-1, with victories in 1930 and 1939 replied to when PNE triumphed 3-1 at Fratton Park in 1948.
The overall head-to-head tells a very different story, with Preston way out in the lead thanks to a W32, D22, L21 record. The Hampshire side hasn't won at Deepdale since a stunning 5-0 triumph in the old second division back in February 1973 - a run that stretches back over eight unbeaten games for the Lilywhites.
Last Time We Met At Deepdale
Preston North End 1 Portsmouth 1
Football League Division One
22nd March 2003
McKenna 89; Yakubu 5
Attendance: 16,665
Referee - Mr Mike Dean
The Premier League official has officiated in some notable televised games this season, including Tottenham's 4-4 draw with Aston Villa, Blackburn's last gasp 2-1 win at Bolton, Man Utd's 2-0 triumph over Chelsea, and the first leg of the Arsenal v Spurs Carling Cup semi final.
This could prove to be another memorable outing for the man from the Wirral, his first visit to Deepdale since the amazing 5-3 victory over Burnley in December 2003.
With 100 yellows and six reds in his 27 games, the card-master has been fairly busy, and hit the headlines when he dismissed John Obi Mikel for a challenge on Patrice Evra.
Betting
Preston 10/3, Draw 9/4, Portsmouth 10/11. Click here now to go to North End's official betting portal, pnebetting.co.uk
Listen Live
Join us on Whites World from 3.30pm where Robert Urbani and Adrian Ward will provide all the big match build-up, with Matt Hardman stepping into the press box at 4pm to provide exclusive full match commentary. Whites World is available now from just £3.99 per month or £19.99 for the remainder of the season, meaning you can follow North End from anywhere on the globe. Don't forget to send your thoughts and opinions on the game to matchday@pne.com.
Don't forget you can buy tickets online at MyPNE.com until 23:59 on Saturday night, in person during our specially extended ticket office opening hours at any time until kick-off, or by calling 0870 442 1966.
