Team news

Portsmouth preview
Portsmouth boss Avram Grant is set to welcome back Steve Finnan and Ricardo Rocha for his side's home clash with Stoke.

Finnan missed the FA Cup derby with Southampton due to a tight groin, while Rocha returns from a ban after being sent off against Sunderland. New signing Dusko Tosic may feature on the bench.

But Anthony Vanden Borre (hamstring), Kevin-Prince Boateng (ankle), Aaron Mokoena (knee ligaments) and Tal Ben-Haim, who had a groin operation last week, are all out. Hermann Hreidarsson is doubtful with an Achilles problem.

Grant is ready to accept players being sold behind his back - for the first and last time in his career.

Portsmouth are reportedly #60 million in debt and facing a winding-up petition from HM Revenue and Customs in the High Court early next month.

Those problems have prompted the club to apply to the Premier League for permission to sell players outside of the usual transfer windows.

The likes of Algerian left-back Nadir Belhadj and promising centre-half Marc Wilson have both been linked with moves away to balance the club's books.

Chief executive Peter Storrie admitted he and Grant nearly walked out of Fratton Park last month, when Younes Kaboul and Asmir Begovic were sold without their say-so.

But the former Chelsea manager is prepared to do his best for the club as long as he is in charge, despite the prospect of his already threadbare squad being further depleted.

On the subject of players being sold behind his back, Grant said: "It has happened to me for the first time in my life.

"I needed to take a decision, and I took a decision to stay and do everything I could for the club.

"There are many things that have happened here that I don't like. Things have happened here that I never accepted in the past and I will not accept in the future.

"But because of the club and the fans, I am trying to do the best I can with this situation."

After the high of knocking local rivals Southampton out of the FA Cup last weekend, Grant admits he was brought back down to earth with a bump when he heard news of Portsmouth considering more player sales.

He said: "At the beginning, I thought it was a joke. But now I know it is not a joke.

"I don't even want to talk about this because I came to this club to do something.

"But every week, or every day sometimes, there is a new thing and I don't know whether these things are sad or funny sometimes.

"Everything happens after we get a good result - something happened after the wins against Burnley and Liverpool.

"We got a good result against Southampton and I thought nothing could happen now because there is no transfer window. You cannot say there is no creativity at this club."

Stoke preview
Stoke full-back Danny Higginbotham is doubtful due to a back spasm.

Higginbotham suffered discomfort during the draw with Manchester City in midweek and did not appear for the second half.

Abdoulaye Faye is sidelined through suspension after being sent off in that match while Matthew Etherington remains absent with a knee injury.

Rory Delap admits his form has dipped during a run that has seen Stoke unbeaten in nine matches in all competitions since the turn of the year.

The midfielder, whose long throws tend to disguise his skill with the ball at his feet, is his own harshest critic.

Despite starting in 21 of 24 league games, the 33-year-old feels he can do better.

He is looking to retain his place in the side following the draw with Manchester City.

Delap said: "I have been in and out of the team a little bit. But I have not been too happy with my form in a few of the games.

"Whether that is age or not I don't know. When I've had a rest and missed a couple of matches it has done me good.

"I think that has shown in my performances when I have come back into the side.

"Playing Saturday, Tuesday, I do feel it in my legs. But some of the younger lads are saying pretty much the same thing.

"It is hard to remember what you were like at 23-24. There is a bit of tiredness there but that is only natural now.

Portsmouth vs Stoke

Last modified 21:45 20/02/10

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With Pompey, if it can go wrong, then it will go wrong.

A spirited and determined performance against Stoke at Fratton Park ended ­without reward as they were beaten by an injury-time goal, Stoke substitute Salif Diao turning in a low cross from Ricardo Fuller.

The Pompey fans had ­generated a frenetic ­atmosphere in the face ofoff-field adversity with their rendition of The Dam Busters theme.

The Great ­Escape would now be more appropriate.

Only at Portsmouth. Ahead of this clash at Fratton Park, the club presented the player of the Month award for ­December.

So it is not only the wages that are late. And it went to a Stoke player...

In between the heroics in the Portsmouth goal before Christmas that earned him the accolade, Asmir Begovic had moved on to the ­Britannia Stadium.

Perhaps ironically, what could be the last opposition at Fratton Park were a club who represent an example of financial commonsense.

Portsmouth’s beleagured manager Avram Grant was reliant on the professional pride of his players and, to be fair, their initial commitment could not be questioned as they dealt with a series of long throws from Rory Delap.

Come the 20th minute and a moment that summed up Pompey’s season when ­Quincy Owusu-Abeyie cut in from the left, set up Frederic Piquionne and the French striker duly beat Thomas ­Sorensen in the Stoke goal – only to glance to his right to see the flag up against him for offside.

But it further lifted the loyal Pompey crowd. If this was to be the last match at Fratton Park, they were not going quietly.

And in the 35th minute, they really had cause to make some noise when Owusu-Abeyie shot from 25 yards, Thomas Sorensen failed the hold the ball and ­Piquionne put in the rebound.

Stoke hit back in the 40th minute and Tuncay carved a shooting opportunity that he blasted straight at David James. Tuncay then ­headed wide in front of an open goal seconds before half-time.

Stoke manager Tony Pulis had clearly made his feelings known at half-time, and ­within five minutes the visitors were level. Glenn Whelan curled in a corner from the right and Robert Huth rose above Marc Wilson to head past James.

Portsmouth were missing the pace of Piquionne who had gone off injured at half-time to be ­replaced by the ­labouring Kanu.

Now Pompey’s vulnerability at the back was exposed by Stoke’s muscular front men and a string of deseprate ­clearances were needed.

Portsmouth were given a boost when Andy Wilkinson was booked twice inside five minutes for hauling back Aruna Dindane and saw red.

Ricardo Fuller was then lucky to escape censure for a challenge on Jamie O’Hara.

But Diao’s late winner was a crushing blow and could be the last act in the Fratton Park tragedy.