Defoe blow for Pompey

Portsmouth will begin their defence of the FA Cup against Bristol City without striker Jermain Defoe, who missed training today after phoning in sick with a virus.

Manager Tony Adams will start with Peter Crouch up front on his own tomorrow with David Nugent on the right-hand side of a five-man midfield.

Defender Martin Cranie has returned from his four-month loan spell at Charlton and will make his first start for Pompey since August 2007.

Adams is without injured Glen Johnson, Richard Hughes, John Utaka and Younes Kaboul while club doctors are still to determine the severity of Papa Bouba Diop’s knee problem.

Provisional squad: James, Begovic, Cranie, Wilson, Distin, Campbell, Pamarot, Belhadj, Hreidarsson, Lauren, Little, Mvuemba, Davis, Kranjcar, A Traore, Nugent, Crouch, Kanu.