Portsmouth

Petrov set for Villa - Redknapp
Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp has given up on his pursuit of Stilian Petrov after revealing the Celtic midfielder is heading for Aston Villa. Pompey have made repeated offers for the Bulgarian international. But Redknapp told Sir Stanley: \"I think you will find Petrov has gone to Aston Villa. That is the plan and we wish him all the best.\" Villa manager Martin O'Neill was in charge of Petrov during his five-year reign at Celtic Park. O'Neill has made a promising start to his career at Villa Park and has been given the go-ahead to strengthen his squad by new owner Randy Lerner. Celtic boss Gordon Strachan has spoken to his predecessor about Petrov but claimed ten days ago that the 27-year-old would not be moving to Villa. Petrov was not included in Saturday's squad for the 2-1 win over Hibernian and is currently preparing for Euro 2008 qualifiers against Romania and Slovenia. The player's agent, Tony McGill, said: \"It would be pretty difficult for him to be on his way to Villa because he is away with Bulgaria. \"With this saga, you never know though. It is possible to conclude a deal by fax, but it is obviously less likely to... whatever club.\" Petrov is contracted to the Scottish champions until 2010 but submitted a transfer request at the end of last season. The transfer window closes on 31 August and, now that O'Neill has the confirmed financial backing of American tycoon Lerner, Aston Villa may be able to find the £7m fee that Celtic are seeking.

Johnson sidelined by ankle injury
On-loan Portsmouth defender Glen Johnson faces a spell out of action after injuring his ankle in training. Right-back Johnson, who joined Pompey for the season from champions Chelsea, will have a scan on his ankle once the swelling goes down. \"We don't know yet how long he is likely to be missing\", said a spokesman for the south coast club. But there are fears that the damage could be a ligament problem, which could mean a long absence.

Middlesbrough 0-4 Portsmouth
Portsmouth climbed up to second in the Premiership with a magnificent victory over Middlesbrough at The Riverside. Kanu's brace brought the hosts crashing back to earth after their win over Chelsea, the striker poking home from close-range to put Pompey in front. Boro's Yakubu was twice foiled by David James before Benjani Mwaruwari was left unmarked to head in from a corner. Kanu made it 3-0 with a fabulous solo effort and substitute Svetoslav Todorov chipped in a fourth in stoppage time. Boro have not beaten Portsmouth in the league since 3 December 1994 and they never looked like ending that dismal run on Teesside. Harry Redknapp's Pompey started like an express train and they never gave Boro a chance to get a grip on proceedings. The game was only five minutes old when Mark Schwarzer was forced to sprawl across his line to claw behind a goalbound 25-yard free-kick from Dejan Stefanovic. And Pompey made Boro pay for their early inertia when the resulting corner was not cleared and Kanu pounced to prod in his third goal of the season. The hosts seemed incapable of ever clearing their lines and they were let off moments later when David Thompson sliced wide after yet more hesitant defending. Pompey looked full of confidence and Stefanovic was marauding down the left at every opportunity to cause Boro problems. Gareth Southgate's side slowly improved and Yakubu went close twice, first having a header saved by James then shooting at the keeper from 22 yards. Lee Cattermole and Gaizka Mendieta curled wide too before Kanu nearly doubled the visitors' lead, his stinging drive parried away by Schwarzer. Boro wanted a goal at the start of the second half and Mark Viduka headed over and Yakubu blazed wide as they began promisingly. But Southgate's teamtalk was soon left in tatters as more sloppy marking left Mwaruwari free at the back post to nod in David Thompson's right-wing corner. Boro desperately tried to find a way through and three times they immediately came close to halving the deficit. Mendieta volleyed just over, James brilliantly tipped over Stewart Downing's free-kick and then Chris Riggott's header was scooped off the line by Gary O'Neil. Just as the Riverside crowd were beginning to think their team could get back into the game, Kanu scored a majestic third to stun the home faithful. With Boro pressing he ran from inside his own half, holding off the challenge of George Boateng, to impudently chip over the advancing Schwarzer and into the net. Southgate made a triple substitution with 20 minutes to go but by then the game was over, the imperious Sol Campbell ensuring Boro had no way back in. Sub Todorov secured Pompey's biggest ever Premiership away win in injury time when he latched onto Sean Davis' pass and lobbed over Schwarzer. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp: \"Kanu was sitting around all summer and no one else wanted him - anybody could have had him, he was just waiting and he has been fantastic. \"It was a good performance, we did ever so well, but I do worry if we get injuries we'll be bang in trouble. \"Linvoy Primus, Sol Campbell and David James did really well. Sol's a rock.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Middlesbrough: Schwarzer, Parnaby, Riggott, Pogatetz, Taylor, Mendieta (Rochemback 70), Cattermole (Morrison 70), Boateng, Downing, Viduka (Christie 70), Yakubu. Subs Not Used: Turnbull, Davies. Booked: Parnaby, Downing. Portsmouth: James, Pamarot, Primus, Campbell, Stefanovic, O'Neil, Davis, Thompson (Koroman 73), Taylor (Hughes 86), Kanu (Todorov 83), Mwaruwari. Subs Not Used: Jordan, O'Brien. Booked: Todorov. Goals: Kanu 7, Mwaruwari 50, Kanu 57, Todorov 90. Att: 24,834. Ref: C Foy (Merseyside).

Cole eager for move to Portsmouth
Manchester City striker Andrew Cole says he wants to quit Eastlands and join Portsmouth. Pompey chief executive Peter Storrie confirmed on Wednesday that the club are interested in signing the former England international. Storrie said: \"Andy is fit and one of several options we're looking at.\" City say they do not want him to leave but a statement on the club's official website said that Cole \"has expressed a desire to join Portsmouth\".

Kranjcar set for Portsmouth move
Hajduk Split midfielder Niko Kranjcar is having a medical in Zagreb with a view to a £3.5m move to Portsmouth. Kranjcar, 22, was being examined at Croatia's training camp ahead of their Euro 2008 qualifier with Russia. Pompey have turned to him after missing out on Celtic's Bulgaria star Stilian Petrov who has signed for Aston Villa. Kranjcar, who has been in Croatia's side since he was a teenager, starred at the World Cup and has been linked with Juventus, Real Madrid and Celtic. He is the son of Zlatko Kranjcar, who was Croatia's coach at the World Cup but was replaced by former West Ham and Everton defender Slaven Bilic after their failure in Germany.

Portsmouth complete Cole signing
Manchester City striker Andrew Cole has signed for Portsmouth after agreeing terms on a two-year deal. Pompey have agreed to pay City a fee that will rise to £1m, depending on the 34-year-old's appearances. Cole is believed to have been offered an even better deal than he had been on at Eastlands, with reports suggesting his new wages will be £40,000 a week. \"The club are trying to push forward, and I want to be a part of that,\" Cole told Portsmouth's official website. \"It's an opportunity for me to play for another two years and I hope to do my best for Portsmouth, score a few goals and get the club into the top 10 which is what they are aiming to do this season. \"The good thing about Fratton Park is that the fans are electric. \"I watched them when Arsenal came down and won, but at no stage did the fans have a moan or groan about the Portsmouth team, and they applauded Arsenal for playing so well.\" Cole, who scored 10 goals in 20 appearances for City last season, has not played since 12 February because of injury, but passed a medical with Portsmouth on Wednesday. He has scored 278 goals in his career, and won 15 caps for England. City wanted to keep the former Newcastle and Manchester United star but he expressed a desire to move. Since leaving United in 2001, Cole has played for Blackburn, Fulham and City.

Mendes close to Portsmouth return
Portuguese midfielder Pedro Mendes is hoping to be fit to play for Portsmouth against Wigan on Saturday. Mendes, 27, was knocked unconscious on 23 August when Manchester City defender Ben Thatcher hit him with his arm. \"I've been training for two days now without any limitations and if all goes well I can return next weekend,\" Mendes told Portuguese paper Correio da Manha. Thatcher, 30, has been given a six-game ban by City and has yet to hear if the Football Association will punish him. Mendes added: \"It's praiseworthy that Manchester City has suspended the player. The incident deserves exemplary punishment. \"I never had a serious injury and it was shocking to wake up at a hospital, surrounded by people, doing all those tests. \"Psychologically, it marked me. It was the darkest moment of my career.\"

Fernandes close to Pompey debut
Portsmouth hope to have Manuel Fernandes fit in time for the home game against Bolton on 25 September. The 20-year-old midfielder has a groin injury which twice blocked a permanent move to the Fratton Park club. Fernandes was eventually signed on loan from Benfica with a view to a club record £7m move. Pompey physio Gary Sadler said: \"Hopefully, without any setbacks, he will be involved with the first team by the end of the month.\" Meanwhile, Portsmouth right-back Glen Johnson has returned to Chelsea - but only for treatment to his injured ankle. He is also aiming to be fit for the home game against Bolton.

Portsmouth v Wigan
Pedro Mendes will return for Portsmouth 16 days after being knocked unconscious by Ben Thatcher at Manchester City. Glen Johnson and Lomana LuaLua are also back in the squad after ankle injuries, but Roudolphe Douala is the only deadline-day signing set to figure. Wigan goalkeeper Chris Kirkland is fit to play after suffering from sciatica. Striker Svetoslav Todorov is ineligible under league loaning rules, and with Henri Camara and Lee McCulloch doubts David Cotterill may be handed a debut. Portsmouth (from): James, Johnson, Primus, Campbell, Stefanovic, O'Neil, Mendes, Davis, Taylor, Kanu, Mwaruwari, Douala, Thompson, Pamarot, Hughes, O'Brien, LuaLua, Cole, Koroman, Kiely. Wigan (from): Kirkland, Jackson, Hall, De Zeeuw, Camara, Johansson, Heskey, McCulloch, Landzaat, Boyce, Scharner, Skoko, Baines, Cotteril, Cywka, Webster, Valencia, Pollitt.

Mendes considered quitting game
Portsmouth midfielder Pedro Mendes has said he considered quitting football following Ben Thatcher's challenge. Mendes was knocked unconscious after Manchester City defender Thatcher hit him with his forearm. \"The first conversation I had with my wife was talking about that subject - the future,\" Mendes told Sir Stanley. \"The thing is, this can happen just on the road, everywhere something can happen but this is what I do and this is what I like to do, play football.\" Mendes says he is ready to return to action against Wigan just 16 days after the incident after a specialist gave him the go-ahead. The 27-year-old has previously described Thatcher's challenge as the worst moment of his career. \"It was terrible. After the incident, I do not remember anything after that until I was in hospital,\" he said. \"It is the worst thing that has ever happened to me in my career.\" Thatcher was banned for six games and fined £120,000 by his club. The internal club punishment was separate from any Football Association sanctions over the incident. Thatcher, who has written to Mendes to apologise for the challenge, must answer an FA charge of serious foul play by 12 September. Mendes has said he will not pursue a legal claim against Thatcher, but the Portuguese star has urged the FA to \"make the right decision on his punishment\".

Portsmouth 1-0 Wigan
Benjani Mwaruwari's sharp finish earned Portsmouth victory over Wigan to maintain his side's unbeaten record. The Zimbabwe striker stole in behind a static defence to fire across Chris Kirkland for the game's only goal. Neither goalkeeper was required to make a save in a poor first half dominated by defences. Pompey sub Lomano LuaLua struck the outside of a post, but David James preserved Pompey's lead with a superb save from Luis Antonio Valencia. Portsmouth midfielder Pedro Mendes returned to action 14 days after being laid out by Manchester City defender Ben Thatcher's horror challenge. Wigan threatened to breach Pompey's defence for the first time this season when keeper Chris Kirkland's long punt was flicked on by Emile Heskey for Henri Camara to hook over the bar. At the other end, Glen Johnson squirmed between two defenders to whip in a wicked cross that Sean Davis just failed to reach. Wigan certainly asked plenty of questions of the Pompey defence early on as they found the width to work in a succession of crosses but Sol Campbell and Linvoy Primus were rock-solid as they dealt with them. Likewise, former Fratton favourite Arjan de Zeeuw marshalled Wigan's back line and Pompey found it difficult to make headway. With both defences holding a high line to compress play, time and space were at a premium in midfield, but Wigan's on-loan Ecuadorean Valencia showed some neat touches to suggest he will cope with the demands of the Premiership. Primus's foul on Camara gave Wigan a sight of goal but Danny Landzaat slammed the free-kick into the wall and the first half ended with neither keeper required to make a save. Former England colleagues Campbell and Heskey had been involved in a good first-half battle and Campbell proved the winner four minutes into the second half to set up Portsmouth's opener. Campbell's towering defensive header caught the Wigan defence on their heels and Benjani nipped behind Fitz Hall to clip the ball over the advancing Kirkland's dive for his second goal of the season. Heskey got the better of Campbell as Wigan sought an immediate reply, holding the ball up well before rolling it into the path of Camara who wastefully blasted over. Gary O'Neil should have doubled Portsmouth's lead when a long throw glanced off Paul Scharner's head but from six yards out the midfielder placed his header straight at a grateful Kirkland. James caused a flutter in Pompey hearts when he spilled Landzaat's half-hit shot but he had time to gather at the second attempt. Pompey failed to dominate after taking the lead and needed Johnson to rescue them as he scraped Heskey's header off the line. LuaLua rolled a shot against the outside of the post but James produced an outstanding save as he arched up to claw away Valencia's dipping shot, to preserve his fourth clean sheet of the season. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp: \"The first goal was going to be important and I thought they were more capable of grabbing it and I was grateful we went in at half-time level. \"But it's a squad game nowadays and although we won at Middlesbrough I changed a winning team. \"It's been a great start and it's given us a good platform and if we have a bad run it will stand us in good stead.\" Wigan manager Paul Jewell: \"I'm naturally disappointed with the result but I'm pleased with the performance, we dominated most of the game. \"We're a new team with players settling into the side, and it's important we take heart from the display. \"I think we were the better side and should have won, but we didn't pick the right pass in the final third.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Primus, Campbell, Stefanovic (Pamarot 66), O'Neil, Davis, Pedro Mendes (Thompson 86), Taylor, Mwaruwari, Kanu (LuaLua 76). Subs Not Used: Kiely, Koroman. Goals: Mwaruwari 49. Wigan: Kirkland, Boyce, De Zeeuw, Hall, Baines, Valencia, Scharner, Landzaat, Teale (Cotterill 78), Heskey, Camara (Johansson 90). Subs Not Used: Pollitt, Jackson, Skoko. Booked: Hall. Att: 19,508 Referee: P Walton (Northamptonshire).

Stefanovic to undergo scan on toe
Portsmouth captain Dejan Stefanovic is set to undergo a scan to find out whether he has broken a toe. The 31-year-old defender was forced off with the injury after 66 minutes of Saturday's win over Wigan and is now a doubt to face Charlton this weekend. He has played at left-back this season, with Linvoy Primus partnering Sol Campbell at the heart of the defence. \"It will be a blow if Dejan has to miss some games but Linvoy has been fantastic,\" said boss Harry Redknapp. If the worst fears about Stefanovic are realised, Portsmouth may switch Matt Taylor from the left side of midfield into defence.

Portsmouth give trial to Denilson
Portsmouth are giving former Brazilian World Cup winger Denilson a trial. The 29-year-old is a free agent after leaving Bordeaux during the summer and Saudi Arabian club Al-Nasr claim they already have an agreement to sign him. But Pompey boss Harry Redknapp, who could also face competition from Middlesbrough, insisted: \"We're taking a look at him.\" Denilson became the world's most expensive player when Real Betis paid Sao Paulo £22m for him in 1998. He has made 61 appearances for Brazil and won a winner's medal at the 2002 World Cup, when he made three substitute appearances in Brazil's group games, and got on to the field for the last minute of the final against Germany. He was also part of Brazil's squad in the 1998 World Cup in France.

Worthington's O'Brien bid halted
Norwich manager Nigel Worthington has revealed that his attempt to sign Portsmouth defender Andy O'Brien on loan has stalled for the time being. The Republic of Ireland international, 26, has been kept out of the Pompey side this season by Sol Campbell and Linvoy Primus. \"A call went in to Harry Redknapp, and 'not at the moment' is the shout,\" Worthington told Norwich's website. \"Andy is a centre-back, but is capable of playing full-back or in midfield.\" Worthington has already signed Derby keeper Lee Camp and Everton defender Patrick Boyle on loan.

Charlton v Portsmouth
Injuries are mounting at Charlton where Djimi Traore is the latest to book into the treatment room, with a broken leg. Fellow new boys Souleymane Diawara and Andy Reid have hamstring injuries and Hermann Hreidarsson is suspended. Andrew Cole, Niko Kranjcar and Roudolphe Douala could all come in for their debuts as Portsmouth look to go top of the Premiership with a win. Dejan Stefanovic should pass a late test on a toe injury and Gary O'Neil has recovered from a stomach strain. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Charlton (from): Carson, Young, El Karkouri, Ambrose, Holland, Faye, Hughes, Hasselbaink, D Bent, Myhre, M Bent, Rommedahl, Kishishev, Lisbie, Pouso. Portsmouth (from): James; Johnson, Primus, Campbell, Stefanovic, O'Neil, Mendes, Davis, Taylor, Kanu, Benjani, LuaLua, Thompson, Kranjcar, Cole, Koroman, Douala, Pamarot, Hughes, Kiely. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Charlton boss Iain Dowie: \"It's disappointing to lose £8m worth of talent in Souleymane Diawara, Djimi Traore and Andy Reid. \"Add to that Jon Fortune's toe and Gonzalo Sorondo's back fracture and it is a bizarre one. \"We've got problems but we'll get on with it. We'll go on being positive.\"

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