Stoke 2 Sunderland 1

Sheffield United cut Reading’s lead at the top of the Coca-Cola Championship to nine points with a 2-1 derby win over rivals Sheffield Wednesday.

Portsmouth 1 Bolton 1

Birmingham 5 Portsmouth 0

Birmingham boss Steve Bruce made six changes from the side which overcame Torquay in the midweek FA Cup third round replay for the bottom-of-the-table Barclays Premiership clash with Harry Redknapp’s revamped side.

Portsmouth will fly Zimbabwe striker Benjani Mwaruwari to the African Nations Cup in Egypt by private jet on Sunday so he can play in tomorrow’s Barclays Premiership relegation clash at Birmingham.

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp will recall skipper Dejan Stefanovic, midfielder Gary O’Neil and forward Laurent Robert to his squad for the home clash with fellow strugglers Fulham after they missed the 4-0 midweek defeat at Arsenal.

Portsmouth will be without two key players for tomorrow’s trip to Arsenal.

Portsmouth have released Poland international striker Emmanuel Olisadebe after a short trial at Fratton Park.

PORTSMOUTH are to take a look at Panathinaikos striker Emmanuel Olisadebe, who arrives on the south coast for a short trial today.

Portsmouth are to take a look at Panathinaikos striker Emmanuel Olisadebe who arrives on the south coast for a short trial tomorrow.

Portsmouth 1 West Brom 0

Tottenham 3 Portsmouth 1

Harry Redknapp pulled no punches about the severity of Portsmouth’s plight as he prepares for the Barclays Premiership game at Tottenham.

Striker Vincent Pericard looks certain to figure for Portsmouth at Tottenham on Monday night after being recalled early from loan at Sheffield United.

HARRY REDKNAPP has identified Portsmouth’s three December home games as the key to their survival in the Barclays Premiership.

SHEFFIELD UNITED’S new-look attack seized their opportunity to impress against Millwall and increase the Blades’ advantage at the top of the Coca-Cola Championship last night.

Striker Vincent Pericard has revealed former Portsmouth team-mate David Unsworth was instrumental in his decision to join Coca-Cola Championship leaders Sheffield United.

Portsmouth 0 Tottenham 2

Portsmouth 0 Inter Milan 2

Gary O’Neil will be fit for Portsmouth’s relegation clash at Fulham on Sunday despite needing 27 stitches in a head wound sustained playing for England under-21s last weekend.

Portsmouth boss Velimir Zajec looks set to stay in the job for the rest of the season.

Portsmouth goalkeeper Kostas Chalkias is to be dropped to the bench after conceding 13 goals in his last six matches, with Jamie Ashdown replacing him for tomorrow’s Fratton Park clash with Newcastle.

Goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown and midfielder Patrik Berger must pass fitness tests ahead of Portsmouth’s game at title-chasing Manchester United at Old Trafford tomorrow.

Former Liverpool and Everton defender Abel Xavier has been added to the list of candidates which Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp is considering to solve his defensive crisis.

Portsmouth have been rocked by a massive injury and availability crisis ahead of Sunday’s FA Cup fifth round replay against Liverpool at Fratton Park.

Captain Teddy Sheringham is struggling to recover from injury in time for Portsmouth’s home game against Chelsea tomorrow.

Aiyegbeni Yakubu will make his final appearance for Portsmouth against Bolton before flying off to the African Nations Cup.

Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp believes he may be a busy man on the transfer front in January as he seeks to add numbers to a squad shattered by injuries.

Gareth Southgate made a bit of Middlesbrough history at the Riverside Stadium but fears his continued success might come at a price.

Jim Smith believes Portsmouth can use tonight’s south-coast Carling Cup derby against Southampton to kick-start their Barclaycard Premiership season.

Portsmouth 4 Bolton 0

Portsmouth 2 Aston Villa 1

Svetoslav Todorov has signed a three-year contract extension with Premiership newcomers Portsmouth.

FT Ipswich 3 Portsmouth 0

Portsmouth 1 Sheffield Utd 2

Portsmouth 1 Sheffield Utd 2

SUNDERLAND booked their place in the third round of the Worthington Cup with a 7-0 romp at Cambridge.

Promotion contenders Leicester and Derby made winning starts to life in Division One but it was Rotherham who provided the biggest shock on the opening day of the season.

Coventry came from behind to take a 2-1 half-time lead at home to Sheffield United on the opening day of the new First Division season as former Liverpool and Scotland midfielder Gary McAllister began his career in management.