Aston Villa-Portsmouth Preview (PA SportsTicker)

Friday, April 16, 2010

ALEX CROOK STATS European Football Writer=

LONDON (SE) - Aston Villa fear relegated opponents Portsmouth could steal their possibility of the place in Europe subsequent season, adding spice to Sunday’s Premier League strife during Fratton Park.

Villa physical education instructor Martin O’Neill still believes his group can waylay fourth place as well as with it the place in subsequent season’s Champions League.

But Villa have been 7 points during the behind of Manchester City in 4 mark as well as have usually 5 matches left to renovate Roberto Mancini’s team.

More expected they will be in the Europa League for the third successive season as long as they finish in the top seven, as well as even that might not be enough.

As FA Cup finalists Portsmouth would normally design to be in the Europa League though they failed to request for the obligatory UEFA licence as well as have right away been relegated anyway.

Pompey have been delectable to UEFA to be authorised to compete though the ruling may not be done until subsequent month, leaving Villa as well as Everton fretting over qualification.

O’Neill said: “I don’t wish to think that distant ahead. we usually wish us to finish the season in the best probable with as many wins as probable as well as worry about Europe during the finish of it.

“If you finish seventh you should be authorised in though Portsmouth reaching the crater last was unexpected as well as has altered things.”

Everton physical education instructor David Moyes, whose group might additionally skip out if Portsmouth’s interest succeeds, has already gone on record to contend Pompey should be barred.

Villa as well as Everton drew 2-2 in midweek, the outcome neither wanted, as well as it equat! es to Vi lla contingency kick Pompey to renew their query for the top 4 place.

O’Neill said: “Portsmouth have been the dangerous group with nothing to play for in league conditions though they valid during Wembley they have the potential to kick the improved teams, so it will not be straightforward.”

Villa await headlines of left behind Stephen Warnock who has the harm leg after the Everton strife while Nigel Reo-Coker is expected to be on the bench.

As usual Portsmouth have been in the pell-mell situation, with physical education instructor Avram Grant having no genuine thought what his side might be.

Nadir Belhadj, Tal Ben-Haim, Hermann Hreidarsson, Danny Webber as well as Jamie O’Hara have been all injured as well as there have been doubts about Ricardo Rocha, David James, Aaron Mokoena as well as Hassan Yebda.

In further \2013 as well as it could usually occur during Pompey \2013 Kevin-Prince Boateng is stuck in Germany by the air trade chaos.

Boateng, the single of the crater heroes during Wembley, was authorised to go behind to Berlin for the integrate of days as well as right away cannot return.

Arrangements were being done to get him behind by road, some 650 miles, though there is no pledge he will have the kick off.

Grant shrugged his shoulders as well as said: “I don’t know what my group is going to be. we don’t know who is fit, who cannot play because of finances as well as who is in what country.”



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