Palace v Portsmouth

Selhurst Park, Saturday 3.00pm

Derry - will lineup against his old club

Team news

Redknapp has been very active in the transfer market over the close season, which saw him sign no fewer than 10 players including Paul Merson from Aston Villa, Deon Burton on loan from Derby, Shaka Hislop from West Ham and Matthew Taylor from Luton.

Portsmouth drew 1-1 with Sheffield United on Tuesday, which saw Deon Burton score his second goal of the season. In their opening day fixture they beat Nottingham Forest 2-0.

Defender Eddie Howe is out for two months with a dislocated knee, and recent signing from Wigan, Arjan De Zeeuw is doubtful after aggravating a sore hamstring during the Sheffield United match.

Redknapp said: "Arjan's done a hamstring and is struggling for Palace. I need to bring in another defender."

The match will see new signing Shaun Derry line up against his old club. Derry is really looking forward to the game, and has reflected on his recent move to Selhurst Park.

He said: "I haven’t got a point to prove to anyone. I’m sure hand on heart people who know me down there know my reasons for leaving. And I stand by that decision.

"I’ve made the right move, without a shadow of a doubt. It was important for me to move purely because it was obvious that Harry Redknapp was bringing in his own players.

"Without going too much into what happened, I did not want to be left in a predicament where I wasn’t playing football.

"But I’m really looking forward to the game. It’s always an added incentive playing against your old club.

"Although things have changed around a lot, I still know the majority of the boys.

"It’s just ironic that one of the first games since my departure is against Portsmouth.

"There will be some banter, I’m sure.

"If Steve Claridge, who did so much for the club, got stick, then I’m sure I will. I can’t be spoken of in the same breath as Steve Claridge.

"I’ll get a rough time of it, which is fine. But I’m sure at the end of the game I’ll go over there and applaud the Pompey fans.

Derry reckons Pompey’s visit will be the toughest test of the season so far for Palace.

He said: "The expectations are so high down there at Portsmouth that they have to put the performances in.

"They’ve bought so many good players that there are no excuses any more. This is the last chance.

"Paul Merson is the best player in division one and whoever signed him were bound to be among the firm favourites for promotion".

Portsmouth will be well represented at the game, after requesting another 1,000 tickets, on top of their original allocation of 3,000.

Dele Adebola could make his debut for the club, as Andy Johnson has been suffering from a stiff neck - an onset from his nasty collision during the opening game against Preston.

Curtis Fleming should also play despite having six stitches above his eye. Fleming sustained a nasty cut in a challenge during the midweek Bradford game.

Portsmouth - league stats

Full league table

Portsmouth - current form

Full form table

Our home record v Portsmouth

Last five results

Date	Type	Home Team	Score	Away Team
05/03/2002	League	Crystal Palace	0 - 0	Portsmouth
15/09/2001	League	Portsmouth	4 - 2	Crystal Palace
02/05/2001	League	Portsmouth	2 - 4	Crystal Palace
21/10/2000	League	Crystal Palace	2 - 3	Portsmouth
30/10/1999	League	Portsmouth	3 - 1	Crystal Palace

All time results

One to watch

Paul Merson

The ex Arsenal and Aston Villa player was snapped up by Redknapp in the pre-season and, despite his 34 years of age, he is one of the most skillful players in the division. Able to link play with ease and score a fair share of goals, Merson will be the man to watch especially for his darting forward runs and one touch passing. With Prosinecki departed for pastures new, the Fratton Park faithful have a new hero to worship.

Probable line-up

Freedman Johnson/Adebola
Granville	Derry	Riihilahti	Butterfield	Fleming
Popovic Mullins Powell
Clarke

Last meeting

Palace 0-0 Portsmouth

Tuesday March 05 2002

Palace: Clarke, Mullins, Austin, Murphy, Granville, Fleming (Smith 28), Gray (Akinbiyi 78), Riihilahti, Black, Freedman, Morrison.

Subs not used: Kolinko, Thomson, Kirovski.

Booking: Granville.

Portsmouth: Beasant, Waterman, Primus, Derry, Vincent, Buxton, Quashie, Pitt (Brady 72), Curtis, Crouch, Cooper (Barrett 83)

Subs not used: Tardif, Vine, Biagini.

Bookings: Buxton, Quashie.

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