Portsmouth’s FA Cup hopes have been hit by the news defender Hermann Hreidarsson and striker Danny Webber face at least six months on the sidelines.

CHELSEA coach Carlo Ancelotti has set his team a target of 86 points to win the Barclays Premier League.

Portsmouth boss Avram Grant is without striker Aruna Dindane for his side’s home clash with Premier League title-chasers Chelsea tomorrow.

BIRMINGHAM gained revenge for their weekend FA Cup exit against Portsmouth after sending the Premier League’s bottom club closer to relegation with a 2-1 triumph at Fratton Park.

Portsmouth 1 Birmingham 2

On-loan striker Frederic Piquionne is a doubt for Portsmouth’s Barclays Premier League match at Burnley tomorrow.

Portsmouth boss Avram Grant is set to welcome back Ireland international Steve Finnan for his side’s home clash with Stoke tomorrow.

Portsmouth 2 Bolton 3

Portsmouth goalkeeper David James may make his return from a knee injury in tomorrow’s Barclays Premier League match against fellow strugglers Bolton.

Portsmouth today boosted their striking ranks with the capture of free agent Danny Webber after he impressed during a trial at Fratton Park.

ASTON VILLA will have to wait until today to confirm the signing of defender Richard Dunne from Manchester City.

Portsmouth have swooped for Manchester City defender Tal Ben-Haim on a four-year deal, subject to a work permit.

Anton Ferdinand expects to be fit for Sunderland’s trip to face Manchester City on Sunday after missing the last two games with a hamstring injury.

Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn is confident the club remains on track to achieve its dreams despite Roy Keane’s departure.

Sunderland goalkeeper Craig Gordon will play his first game for 10 weeks against Blackburn in the FA Cup tomorrow.

Alex Ferguson has attacked sections of the media he claims would be delighted if Wayne Rooney was banned by UEFA.

Manchester City manager Mark Hughes believes his side have finally turned a corner with their away form, despite surrendering a 2-1 lead to take a point from their visit to Hull.

STEPHEN IRELAND may have fallen out of love with international football, but his romance with Manchester City continues to blossom with every passing week.

Hull 2 Manchester City 2

Hull 1 Manchester City 2

Newcastle boss Joe Kinnear is confident Shola Ameobi can re-launch his career on Tyneside after seeing him play his part in a thrilling 2-2 draw with Manchester City.

MICHAEL BALLACK is determined to put his summer misery behind him and focus on winning silverware for Chelsea.

Sunderland 0 Manchester City 3

Shaun Wright-Phillips was handed a second debut for Manchester City at Sunderland this afternoon.

FC Midtjylland 0 Manchester City 1 (after extra-time, Man City win 4-2 on penalties)

Chelsea midfielder Joe Cole wants to see out his career at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea 1 Wigan 1

Goalkeeper Petr Cech has been named in Chelsea’s side to face Wigan at Stamford Bridge with a chin guard to protect 50 stitches in a facial wound.

Chelsea’s pre-season tour of Malaysia has received the green light after the country’s government announced there would be no restrictions on the club’s two Israelis.

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech is back in training and waiting for surgeons to give him the go-ahead to play following his horrific facial injury.

CHELSEA goalkeeper Petr Cech has played down fears he could miss the rest of the season.

Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech is understood to have required an astonishing 50 stitches in the facial injury that has wrecked his comeback bid.

Chelsea 3 Huddersfield 1

Newcastle have been rebuffed by Manchester United in their attempt to sign England defender Wes Brown – but Alex Ferguson has not ruled out a deal taking place if the player is interested.

Chelsea coach Avram Grant made five changes from the side which defeated Derby on Saturday for the Champions League clash with Rosenborg.

ISRAEL coach Dror Kashtan has insisted his players will “give their very best” in today’s Euro 2008 qualifier with Russia.

Chelsea made seven changes for the visit of Leicester in the Carling Cup at Stamford Bridge.

IN THE WORLD of street entertainment, if there is one thing worse than a fella mangling Bob Dylan — and in the world of street entertainment, there’s always a fella mangling Bob Dylan — it’s someone pretending to be trapped in an invisible box or, how droll, passing themselves off as the Statue of Liberty.

IN THE WORLD of street entertainment, if there is one thing worse than a fella mangling Bob Dylan — and in the world of street entertainment, there’s always a fella mangling Bob Dylan — it’s someone pretending to be trapped in an invisible box or, how droll, passing themselves off as the Statue of Liberty.

Liverpool 1 Chelsea 1

ISRAEL coach Avraham Grant has warned Republic of Ireland boss Brian Kerr he will stop at nothing to ensure his nation’s World Cup dream is not extinguished.

Israel coach Avraham Grant has warned Republic of Ireland boss Brian Kerr he will stop at nothing to ensure his nation’s World Cup dream is not extinguished.

France coach Raymond Domenech claims his team are still brimming with confidence even though their World Cup qualifying campaign has so far failed to fuel the imagination.

GUINEA’S President Lansana Conte has rewarded the national soccer team with gifts of two tractors and land to show his appreciation after they routed Botswana 4-0 to move to the top of their World Cup qualifying group.