Npower Championship
Venue: Fratton Park
Date: Saturday 14 January
Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Coverage: Watch highlights on The Football League Show; listen on BBC Radio 5 live and BBC local radio;
text commentary on the BBC Sport website
TEAM NEWS
Portsmouth have injury doubts over Ricardo Rocha (calf), Hayden Mullins (calf) and Luke Varney (knee).
Striker Varney will have a late fitness test and will not be risked if there are any doubts over his recovery.
West Ham's only injury worries are defender Guy Demel (thigh) and midfielder Matt Taylor (calf).
Having rested goalkeeper Rob Green, James Tomkins and Kevin Nolan for the FA Cup, manager Sam Allardyce could recall the trio for the clash.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• This is the 35th competitive meeting between these clubs, and there is nothing between them, having both won 14 of the previous 34.
• West Ham won the reverse fixture 4-3 in September, and are in line to complete the double over Portsmouth for the fourth time and first since the 1992/93 second tier season.
• The Hammers need to score once to total 50 competitive goals against Portsmouth, and Pompey need three goals to do the same to West Ham.
Portsmouth
• Mid-table Portsmouth, who are eight points below the play-offs and seven points above the relegation zone, are seeking a fourth win in seven league games, and their second back-to-back victories of this Championship campaign.
• Three points would also provide Pompey with their 600th win in second level league football.
• Michael Appleton, the second youngest manager in the Championship, has witnessed three wins, three draws and three defeats in the nine league and cup games since he took over at Fratton Park.
West Ham United
• West Ham need a better result that Southampton, and a two-goal swing to go top of the Championship table for the first time this season.
• But the Hammers, humbled by Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup, have only registered two wins in six league outings.
• Sam Allardyce, the oldest manager in the Championship, is in charge of the club with the most "away" points in the division (24), and the strongest away defence, with just 11 goals conceded in 13 games.
Last edited by Admin on Sat Jan 14, 2012 3:16 pm; edited 4 times in total (Reason for editing : Couldn't get it right today....lol)
West ham have never losted when I gone to watch them play .. Hoping that run continues on saturday 
A repeat of the 4-1 win I saw live at fratton park on boxing day 2008 will do me 
