POMPEY: James, Johnson, Distin, Campbell, Belhadj, Bouba Diop, Davis, Hughes, Traore (Hreidarsson, 90), Crouch, Defoe. Subs: Ashdown, Kaboul, Pamarot, Mvuemba, Little, Kanu.

STOKE: Simonsen, Griffin, Higginbotham, Cort, Abdoulaye Faye, Olofinjana, Amdy Faye, Delap (Cresswell, 74), Tonge (Soares, 65), Kitson (Sidibe, 61), Fuller. Subs: Wilkinson, Whelan, Shawcross, Sonko.

After the midweek UEFA Cup heroics, Harry Redknapp made just two changes to the starting line-up from the 2-2 draw in Guimaraes.

Out went the suspended Lassana Diarra to be replaced by the fit-again Papa Bouba Diop, while Noe Pamarot made way for Nadir Belhadj as the Blues boss went for a 4-42 formation with Bouba Diop on the right side of midfield.

Former Pompey boss Tony Pulis, meanwhile, was able to recall Rory Delap and his huge throw-in abilities, while ex-Pompey stars Amdy Faye, Andy Griffin and Ricardo Fuller all lined up against their former club.

00 - Kick-off.

02 - Great ball in from Armand Traore has Steve Simonsen at full stretch to punch clear with Peter Crouch lurking. Bright start from Pompey.

04 - Bouba Diop so nearly finds the far corner with a low drive from 25 yards. Simonsen looked beaten there.

06 - First exocet of the day from Delap causes a few problems in the Pompey box, but they smuggle it away from danger. If we didn't know it would be a threat beforehand, we do now.

13 - Lucky escape for Pompey as Dave Kitson spurns a glorious chance to put the visitors ahead. Pompey stood waiting for an offside flag, but Kitson ran from deep to go one-on-one with David James, only to drag his shot well wide. Sol Campbell and Sylvain Distin exchange worried glances but that was a let-off.

19 - It's all a bit disjointed so far. Stoke are doing their best to waste a few seconds when they can and Pompey haven't got their passing game going just yet. Harry told us this one would be a war. Looks like he was right.

22 - Seyi Olofinjana is the first name in the book after a nasty lunge on Sean Davis. The Pompey midfielder looks like he's ok though.

25 - GOAL - POMPEY 1 STOKE 0. Peter Crouch smashes home a superb overhead kick from Jermain Defoe's cross and sees his shot nestle in the far corner. What a fabulous goal from a player playing with total confidence after his double in midweek.

33 - Good tenacity from Defoe sees Abdoulaye Faye give the ball away with his scuffed clearance and the Pompey striker fizzes in a shot that Simonsen struggles to handle.

35 - Fuller sprints away from the Pompey defence and stumbles as James comes racing out of his goal. It looked more of a stumble rather than a dive, but James is not happy and thinks the Jamaican should have been booked.

43 - Pompey's howls for a penalty fall on deaf ears as Defoe appears to have his leg clipped as he was about to pull the trigger. A great run from Traore opened the door again and if Defoe had rolled it across goal, Bouba Diop would have had an empty net. Hey-ho - that's why he's a goalscorer I suppose.

45 - HALF TIME: POMPEY 1 STOKE 0.
Decent first half from Pompey against a side who are extremely difficult to play against. They might have had more than the one goal to show for their efforts, but Crouch's strike was a thing of beauty.
Stoke, meanwhile, are doing exactly what everyone though they would: launch the ball forward at every opportunity and play for set-pieces.

46 - We're off and running again. No changes from either side and Richard Hughes tries his luck again from distance but Simonsen saves well. I thought Hughesie said he'd had his two shots for the season last weekend?

48 - GOAL - POMPEY 1 STOKE 1: Now there's a surprise, a Delap long throw-in is flicked on and Ricardo Fuller bundles home from two yards out. Poor defending from Pompey there.

50 - Defoe smashes a shot against the inside of Simonsen's post with a stinging drive. The keeper was nowhere near it.

51 - GOAL - POMPEY 2 STOKE 1: Defoe does it again as he drives home a low shot beyond the keeper from the edge of the box. Hughes won back possession for Pompey, Defoe dropped a shoulder and found a yard of space and tucks home with aplomb.

57 - Great run again from Traore causes Stoke all kinds of problems. He lays inside to Crouch and the giant striker makes a good connection, but Simonsen does well to parry away.

61 - Sub for Stoke as Dave Kitson is replaced by Mamady Sidibe and moments later Traore sees his angled drive well beaten out by Simonsen.

63 - Another decent chance goes begging for Pompey as Crouch steers a header just wide from a deep free-kick on the right touchline.

65 - Another sub for Stoke as Tom Soares comes on for Michael Tonge and moments later Simonsen is booked for rushing out of his box and taking down Traore. It's well away from goal down near the corner flag so the ref takes a lenient view.

74 - Stoke make their last change as Richard Cresswell replaces Delap. The former Saints man gets a predictable ovation from the home fans as he trudges off.

78 - Amdy Faye is shown a yellow card for a word out of place to the referee. Nice to know he hasn't changed since he left Pompey.

85 - Into the last five minutes and Pompey are still looking for the killer third goal, but Stoke have just threatened on teh break once or twice. Pompey need to see this one out now.

90 - Hermann Hreidarsson replaces Traore to use up a few seconds.

90 - FULL TIME: POMPEY 2 STOKE CITY 1.

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