Palace v Portsmouth

Selhurst Park, Tuesday 8.00pm

Crystal Palace

Team news

Portsmouth are, like Palace, currently going through a bad spell which has left them 17th in the table with chairman Milan Mandaric threatening to not pay the players wages.

Gary O'Neil and Neil Barrett will both have to pass late fitness tests if they are to be able to play on Tuesday. Left-back Jamie Vincent is also classed as a doubt, however the former Palace man should be fit in time to claim his place in the starting line up.

Graham Rix will be pleased that Kevin Harper can return to the starting eleven having served his one-match ban. Defender Linvoy Primus is also back following a three-match suspension, however Rix could decide to only put him on the bench.

Trevor Francis will be looking to make some important changes following a disgraceful performance against Grimsby on Saturday.

With Palace conceding five goals in the last game, Alex Kolinko could be recalled to the starting line up to replace Matt Clarke in goal.

A massive boost for the Palace defence could be the return of defender Tony Popovic from injury. The Australian defender picked up a groin injury about a month ago against Coventry and since then Palace have lost three of their last six results.

Meanwhile, fellow defender Kit Symons will once again have to watch from the stands. Symons also injured his groin in the same game as Popovic however the former Welsh international’s injury is said to be more serious and so will take longer to heal.

Trevor Francis could well ponder a return to his preferred 4-3-3 formation with new signing Ade Akinbiyi joining Dougie Freedman and CLINTON MORRISON up front.

Portsmouth - league stats

Full league table

Portsmouth - current form

Full form table

Our home record v Portsmouth

Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
15/09/2001	League	Portsmouth	4 - 2	Crystal Palace
02/05/2001	League	Portsmouth	2 - 4	Crystal Palace
21/10/2000	League	Crystal Palace	2 - 3	Portsmouth
30/10/1999	League	Portsmouth	3 - 1	Crystal Palace
02/10/1999	League	Crystal Palace	4 - 0	Portsmouth

All time results

One to watch

Peter Crouch

Despite there being some ex-Palace players who will no doubt come back and haunt us, it is Crouch who poses the largest danger, in many senses, to us on Tuesday night. The giraffe of a striker was bought in for £1.5m from relegated QPR in the close season by Graham Rix and he has repaid the former Chelsea coach with 18 goals this season, 17 of which came in the league. He is an obvious threat in the air due to his 6'5 inch frame but he can also prove tricky wilth the ball at his feet. If Palace defend in the same manner as Saturday at Grimsby, he will get chances that he will be expected to capitalise from.

Last meeting

English Division 1

C Palace 2 (2) Black 36 Black 40 Portsmouth 3 (1) Claridge 45 Thogersen 59 Panopoulos 80 21-10-2000

C Palace: Kolinko, Smith, Mullins, Morrison, Black, Forssell(Carlisle,61), Rubins, Pollock, Harrison(Rodger,63), Staunton, Morrison Subs not used: Gray, Thomson, Frampton

Portsmouth: Hoult, Primus, Edinburgh, Derry, Moore (Hughes,45 (Miglioranzi,71), Claridge, Bradbury (Nightingale,88), Quashie, Thogersen, Hiley, Panopoulos Subs not used: Flahavan, Waterman,

Bookings: None

Attendance: 15693

Referee: P A Durkin (Portland)

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