Pompey must break Chelsea jinx
Pompey head to Chelsea tonight bidding to overcome one of their biggest Premier League hoodoos.
The Blues have never picked up a point at Stamford Bridge in six previous visits.
They have also netted just the once – Benjani Mwaruwari the scorer.
It's been misery after misery heaped upon Pompey by the current league leaders.
Mind you, results at Fratton Park have not been much better.
Last year's 1-1 Fratton Park draw was the sole time a point has been taken against Chelsea in the Premier League.
Still, tonight it's back to the venue which last time out staged a 4-0 drubbing of then-manager Harry Redknapp's side last season.
The Blues opened the campaign there and found themselves three goals down by the end of the first half.
With Younes Kaboul making his debut, the hosts ran out 4-0 winners by the end.
The only time Pompey have managed a goal at Stamford Bridge was in October 2006.
Benjani struck in the second half to reduce the deficit following strikes from Andrei Shevchenko and Michael Ballack.
It proved nothing more than a consolation in a spirited performance.
In contrast, Pompey's first two Premier League visits ended in 3-0 defeats.
In December 2003, Redknapp's men were undone by second-half goals from Wayne Bridge, Frank Lampard and Geremi.
To their credit, they had managed to keep the hosts at bay for the opening 65 minutes.
The following campaign saw Velimir Zajec's men concede three goals in the first 39 minutes on their way to a 3-0 loss.
In February 2006, late goals from Lampard and Arjen Robben again gave the hosts a comfortable 2-0 victory.
While August 2007 saw Lampard's 31st-minute strike settle matters.
Now Pompey are heading back to Stamford Bridge looking to get that first Premier League point.
Let's just hope that jinx can be well and truly broken.
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Weather for Portsmouth
Wednesday 08 February 2012
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