Preview: Fulham v Portsmouth

I've said it before virtually every match this season and I'll say it again: tomorrow is going to be a very tough game. If we manage to get a 1-1 draw - which is my prediction - then that would be an achievement, even though we badly need to get some wins under our belt.

Pompey have had a good start to the season and are currently lying in 6th spot with 12 points from their first eight games. This includes three wins - at home against Bolton and Reading, and away at Blackburn, and three draws - away at Derby and at home to Manchester United and Liverpool. Their two losses have both been on the road, at Chelsea and Arsenal.

They have bagged 15 goals - making them the second highest scoring team behind Arsenal on 16 - although it's worth bearing in mind that a whopping seven of those came last weekend in their thrilling 7-4 home win over Reading. On the downside they have conceded 12 goals.

Their top scorer is Benjani Mwaruwari with five (three of which came last weekend), while Kanu and Utaka have each netted twice. Taylor, Davis, Muntari, Kranjcar and Hreidarsson all have one goal to their names.

Last season both our matches ended in 1-1 draws. Zat Knight (remember him?) got our goal down at Fratton Park in November, while an injured Ian Pearce scored our equaliser at the Cottage in March.

So what's likely to unfold tomorrow?

Well, as Rich on CCN points out, we can virtually guarantee that big Papa - as Cookie used to call him - will score an absolute thunderbolt. We know what he's capable of but, as Portsmouth will eventually find out (probably after he returns from the African Nations Cup) you only get to see glimpses of his genius. Most of the time he is very mediocre at best. I, for one, am glad we got shot of him in the summer and that's not a case of sour grapes. When he was good, he was very good. It's just those times were few and far between.

Tomorrow also sees the return of another son - Sean Davis. Now Seany is a different matter entirely. He will, predictably, be given abuse tomorrow but I won't be joining in. I like him and am grateful for the part he played in our rise up the divisions. I still maintain that he would have become an established part of the England set-up and our club captain if he'd stayed with us but there you go. Sad all round really.

Enjoy the match and let's keep our fingers crossed for all three points - and if you haven't already picked up your copy of the Fulham Review then Rich and the boys will be selling them tomorrow at the ground.