Appleton seeking emotional St Andrews return
Pompey manager Michael Appleton
St Andrew’s represents the end of Michael Appleton’s playing career.
Now Pompey’s boss is returning – this time targeting becoming the first manager this season to win there.
It was on November 7, 2001, when the then-West Bromwich Albion midfielder lined up in a midlands derby.
Hosts Birmingham tasted a 1-0 defeat against their rivals in that game.
The Baggies went on to win promotion to the Premier League that season as runners-up.
As for Appleton, he tore cruciate ligaments in his right knee the following week in training.
He never played again.
The 36-year-old is now tasting his first job in management with Pompey.
Tonight, he heads back to St Andrew’s, gunning to end their unbeaten league record.
Chris Hughton’s men have won nine and drawn five of their 14 home fixtures so far.
In addition, they have conceded just six goals.
It adds up to a tough ask for Pompey.
But Appleton has experience of triumphing in that part of Birmingham.
He said: ‘St Andrew’s is actually the last game I played competitively, so it is a good and bad ground for me.
‘We actually won on the night, but it turned out to be my last game. So I’ve got a few memories of that ground as it is.
‘My record there is pretty good.
‘I remember winning there with Preston, and with West Brom when we beat them 3-1 last year.
‘So I have a decent record and decent memories of the stadium.
‘They are in a rich vein of form at the minute.
‘They have got some decent players and a striker in (Nikola) Zigic who recently scored four goals in a game.
‘It was also a decent performance against Southampton at the weekend and they are a team who are not conceding goals but scoring a lot. So they are going to be very dangerous.
‘We just want to make sure we back up a decent performance against Peterborough.
‘If we do that or like we did up at Burnley, then it is fortune favours the brave, I suppose.
‘We are not going to go there just to defend. We will go there with a frame of mind that we respect the position they are in, the players they have got and the fantastic management team.
‘But we are aware that there are areas in their team that we can go and hopefully get some joy from.’
Hughton’s side currently sit in fifth spot in the table.
They are 11 matches unbeaten in all competitions, including bundling Wolves out of the FA Cup.
Birmingham are rapidly emerging as the challengers to West Ham and Southampton for automatic promotion.
And they have an unbeaten home record driving them on.
Appleton added: ‘The Birmingham fans can be quite volatile at times. They give you a bit of stick if you come on as sub or are going off.
‘But they get behind their team and, obviously, they have reason to at the minute because their team are doing well.
‘They are a fantastic set of fans who get behind their team – similar to ours in a way.
‘But it’s sometimes easy to forget once you get on a little bit of a run – whether home or away – the morale and confidence you get from that is amazing.
‘It’s going to be a difficult game. We’re aware of the threat they have got, especially in the forward ranks.We fully expect 90 full minutes of pure concentration and make sure we keep doors locked and we don’t give them opportunities.’
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Comments
There are 13 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
OldPompeyBlue
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 10:43 PMpompeypn1 @12 - I, 4-1, can assure you that someone has been changing the relevant comment regarding the score. I suggest you try and track the original article to see the error made by The News reporter, sorry one Neil Allen, before it was corected. The magic of computers! PS. Who are you? I suspect pompeypn1 = Portsmouth News No.1 reporter, well, copier.
pompeypn1
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 05:56 PMComments 1 and 3 the news said that 'Hosts Birmingham tasted a 1-0 defeat against their rivals in that game' then go on to quote appy saying 'we actually won on the night' that makes sense what are you two getting at? Anyway mattyc post 8 ridiculous comment I 4-1 think 2-2 is on the cards there's no way we will nick it 1-0, Birmingham will score it just depends on how many and can we match it or strike it lucky and get 1+ more!! My prediction is 2-2 PUP KEEP THE FAITH!!
Bob Fraser
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 05:22 PMI know it will not be easy for Pompey to night at Birminghame tonight.If it would be possible for us to score an earley goal in first half I think the result could become perhaps a draw at full time..........PUP
chunky39 was 37
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 04:06 PM90+ minutes of concentration - you have to love MA don't you sorts the basics out first!
pompeylil
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 04:01 PMBrums run has got to come to an end sometime!! : )
MattyC
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 04:01 PMI can't see anything other than a 8-0 defeat for us.
Bernst
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 01:24 PMWhat a pessimistic lot you are. pompey are playing well at the moment and can beat anyone in this division on their day. 1-0 Pompey. PUP
russian chris
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 01:13 PMCant see us getting anything out of this tonight. Reckon a 1-0 defeat for us. However ,we are Pompey,so expect the unexpected!
pompeyhudson
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 01:02 PMcould we forfeit the game? that way pompey saves around £60 on fuel! every penny counts!
gingerprince
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 12:48 PMDont see anything but defeat in this one, and that was before I realised Birmingham were unbeaten at home all season. A draw would represent a very good result.
OldPompeyBlue
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 12:42 PMJames, my thoughts exactly, but you beat me to it. Oh dear News, what a sad state of affairs. With this sort of basics errors you could be deemed fit & proper to run a football club, haha! Remember many years ago when we travelled to Birminghma for a mid-week game and won 1-0. It was a big surprise on the night. The result even made the News at Ten. Lets hope for a repeat this evening.
BlueArmy11
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 12:28 PMA really tough away game. a point would be a massive achievement. Sadly it will count for nothing in a couple of weeks when the tax man winds us up!
james1804
Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at 12:14 PMWho won? Hosts Birmingham 1-0, Appy (West brom) " we actually won on the night". Oh dear the news
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