Avram Grant pulled off a great win against Liverpool but the real test will be today's relegation six-pointer at West Ham

By Mark Lawrenson

Published 23:51 25/12/09

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Avram Grant is facing a difficult 2010 as he battle to keep Portsmouth in the top flight.

And there will be no bigger test than Portsmouth’s visit to West Ham on Boxing Day for a real relegation six-pointer.

But Grant has been shrewd. He's made Portsmouth hard to beat, made good tactical decisions, set up his team well and showed his tactical intellect when Pompey beat Liverpool at Fratton Park.

Michael Brown got up Steven Gerrard’s nose, Tal Ben Haim didn’t allow Fernando Torres to play and Glen Johnson was nullified down Liverpool’s right. Obvious but clever and it worked.

West Ham are struggling because of a lack of goals. They really miss Carlton Cole but their squad - with England internationals Rob Green and Matt Upson plus Scott Parker - should be strong enough.

But what they lack compared to Portsmouth is physical strength and that’s something that Gianfranco Zola may have to address in January, even if it means having to sacrifice one player to bring in two to toughen up his squad.

Either way, Portsmouth and West Ham are two of seven teams in real danger this season.

The rest are Bolton, Blackburn, Hull, Wolves and Burnley. It’s going to be tight and unless Portsmouth and West Ham go on a great run then I really fear the worse for them both.

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