by Josh Bell
Pompey face the most daunting of a tough run of three away games in seven days when they face Premier League champions Manchester United on Saturday.
The Theatre of Dreams could be christened the scene of nightmares for the Blues. They have lost all six of their top-flight encounters with Gary O’Neil scoring the solitary goal in a 2-1 defeat in February 2005.
Aside from an unforgettable 1-0 victory en route to their famous FA Cup triumph in 2008, Pompey are without a victory at Old Trafford since 1957.
But Manchester United have already suffered three home defeats this season with League One side Leeds dumping them out of the FA Cup courtesy of a well-deserved 1-0 victory at Old Trafford last month.
Pompey will be looking to inflict a fourth defeat, although they have only won once on their Premier League travels this season: a 1-0 triumph over Wolves in October.
And since losing to Leeds the champions have been in fine form, winning three out of four league games and dumping bitter local rivals Manchester City out of the Carling Cup to reach the final.
The pre-season talk was of how big an impact the departures of Cristiano Ronaldo and Carlos Tevez would have on United. But Wayne Rooney has stepped up to the plate and bagged 23 goals, including a four-goal haul against Hull.
Manchester United’s defence has been depleted by injury this season, however, with Nemanja Vidic only recently returning to full training after suffering a leg injury.
Rio Ferdinand is definitely out as he serves the second game of a four-match ban.
But Pompey have problems of their own, with Hermann Hreidarsson (Achilles), Michael Brown (back), Aaron Mokoena (knee), Papa Bouba Diop (hamstring) and John Utaka (hamstring) all doubtful.
But if the Blues show a similar amount of the spirit that was on display in Wednesday’s defeat at Fulham, then anything is possible.