Portsmouth v Palace

Fratton Park, Saturday 5.15pm

Sandor Torghelle

Team news

Sandor Torghelle faces a late fitness test on his ankle injury which kept him out for Palace's last three matches.

He was surpisingly picked for the Hungary squad's World Cup Qualifier on Wednesday night and came off the bench to score.

"According to the club doctors I am fit and healthy," Torghelle told Nemzeti Sport. "So I am ready to play at the weekend against Portsmouth."

New loan signing Nicola Ventola or returning striker Neil Shipperely could play if Torghelle is unfit - both featured in a reserve game on Tuesday night. New striker Wayne Andrews is set for a place on the bench.

Pompey striker Ricardo Fuller, who was on loan at Palace in 2001, will have his fitness tested after playing for Jamaica in midweek. He should play alongside Yakubu Aiyegbeni up top.

Diomansy Kamara, Portsmouth's record £2.2m signing, may have to settle for a place on the bench, while Richard Hughes is back after his calf troubles.

Amdy Faye (knee) and Aliou Cisse (calf), who Palace nearly signed in the summer, are struggling to be fit.

Portsmouth - league stats

Full league table

Portsmouth - current form

Full form table

Our away record v Portsmouth

Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
26/12/2002	League	Portsmouth	1 - 1	Crystal Palace
17/08/2002	League	Crystal Palace	2 - 3	Portsmouth
05/03/2002	League	Crystal Palace	0 - 0	Portsmouth
15/09/2001	League	Portsmouth	4 - 2	Crystal Palace
02/05/2001	League	Portsmouth	2 - 4	Crystal Palace

All time results

One to watch

Patrik Berger

Patrik Berger is an amazing talent in midfield that is possibly one of, if not, the best signing that Portsmouth have ever made.

The former Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund & Czech Republic ace has the ability to control the entire midfield, defend asututely and score at will.

He showed his scoring ability in the match against Charlton earlier this season where he managed to launch the ball from around 35 yards into the back of the net.

He has bags of Premiership, Bundesliga and International experience, has a brilliant footballing brain and can keep a cool head when situations arise. Ignore him at your peril, because given half a chance, he WILL take it.

Other people to look out for include: Yakubu, who is on a roll after scoring a hat-trick against Fulham.

David Unsworth, who is a fantastic defender and is in the beginnings of having a great season with Pompey.

Diomansy Kamara, a great striker who may make his debut and will be looking to cement a first team place.

Probable line-up

	Johnson	Torghelle
Kolkka	Hall	Riihilahti	Routledge
Granville	Popovic	Hudson	Boyce
Speroni

Last meeting

Portsmouth 1-1 Palace

Thursday December 26 2002

Portsmouth: Hislop, Crowe (Harper, 81), Taylor, Primus, De Zeeuw, Foxe, Quashie, Diabate (O'Neil, 57), Merson, Burton (Pericard, 58), Todorov

Subs not used: Kawaguchi, Burchill

Booking: Foxe

Goal: Merson 27

Palace: Kolinko, Butterfield, Gray, Powell, Symons, Popovic, Derry, Riihilahti, Mullins, Black (Akinbiyi, 62), Adebola

Subs not used: Michopoulos, Williams, Routledge, Borrowdale

Goal: Gray 30

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