2007–08 Portsmouth F.C. season

Portsmouth F.C. had its most successful season since it won the domestic league twice 1949 and 1950, thanks to an FA Cup campaign that saw them beating Cardiff City in the final. The run to the final included a surprise 1–0 victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford, thanks to a Sulley Muntari penalty.

Portsmouth
2007–08 season
ManagerHarry Redknapp
StadiumFratton Park
Premier League8th
FA CupWinners
League CupFourth round vs Blackburn Rovers
Top goalscorerBenjani (12)
Highest home attendance20,556
Lowest home attendance8,502

The millions of pounds invested in the squad on players such as Glen Johnson, Lassana Diarra, Muntari and others also enabled Portsmouth to have an unprecedented run in the modern Premier League era, finishing in eighth, despite losing the last few matches of the season. During the autumn, Portsmouth was involved in the battle for a Champions League spot, thanks to its surprise form. The season also saw a remarkable game, beating Reading by 7–4 at Fratton Park, following eight goals in the second half.

However, despite the success in the FA Cup and league, the club's overspending on players would lead to a financial crisis that would see Portsmouth enter administration twice and suffer relegation to the fourth tier within five seasons.

First-team squad

Squad at end of season[1]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  ENG David James
3 DF  FRA Lucien Aubey[notes 1] (on loan from Lens)
4 DF  CMR Lauren
5 DF  ENG Glen Johnson
6 MF  FRA Lassana Diarra
7 DF  ISL Hermann Hreiðarsson
8 MF  SEN Papa Bouba Diop
9 FW  CZE Milan Baroš (on loan from Lyon)
10 FW  ENG David Nugent
11 MF  GHA Sulley Muntari
14 FW  ENG Jermain Defoe
15 DF  FRA Sylvain Distin
16 DF  FRA Noé Pamarot
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 FW  NGA John Utaka
18 MF  COD Arnold Mvuemba[notes 2]
19 MF  CRO Niko Kranjčar
20 DF  ENG Martin Cranie
21 GK  ENG Jamie Ashdown
22 MF  SCO Richard Hughes
23 DF  ENG Sol Campbell (captain)
27 FW  NGA Nwankwo Kanu
28 MF  ENG Sean Davis
30 MF  POR Pedro Mendes
31 GK  CAN Asmir Begović[notes 3]
34 MF  FRA Franck Songo'o[notes 4]

Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
3 DF  SRB Dejan Stefanović (to Fulham)
6 DF  MLI Djimi Traoré[notes 5] (on loan to Rennes)
14 MF  ENG Matthew Taylor (to Bolton Wanderers)
25 FW  ZIM Benjani Mwaruwari (to Manchester City)
No. Pos. Nation Player
26 MF  ENG Gary O'Neil (to Middlesbrough)
32 FW  COD Lomana LuaLua (to Olympiacos)
33 DF  IRL Andy O'Brien[notes 6] (to Bolton Wanderers)

Reserve squad

The following players did not appear for the first-team this season.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
2 DF  ENG Linvoy Primus
24 DF  WAL Richard Duffy
35 DF  IRL Marc Wilson[notes 7]
GK  ENG Nicholas Jordan
DF  ENG Callum Reynolds
DF  ENG Joel Ward
MF  ENG Tom Kilbey
No. Pos. Nation Player
MF  ENG Marlon Pack
MF  ENG Matt Ritchie[notes 8]
MF  FRA Jean-François Christophe
FW  DEN Adda Djeziri
FW  BEL Andréa Mbuyi-Mutombo[notes 9]
FW   SUI Danijel Subotić[notes 10]

Competitions

Premier League

Results

Matchday1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
GroundAHHAAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAH
ResultDDWLLDWWWWDWDWDWLLDLWLWLDWWLWWLWWDLLLL
Position1011591315107657576657778898998797666667788
Source: WorldFootball.com
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
11 August 2007 1Derby County2–2PortsmouthDerby, Derbyshire
Oakley  5'
Todd  84'
Report Benjani  27'
Utaka  83'
Stadium: Pride Park Stadium
Attendance: 32,176
Referee: Mike Dean
15 August 2007 2Portsmouth1–1Manchester UnitedPortsmouth, Hampshire
19:45 Benjani  53'
Muntari  54',  83' 
Davis  86'
Report Scholes  15'
Ronaldo  85'
Vidić  86'
Stadium: Fratton Park
Attendance: 20,510
Referee: Steve Bennett
18 August 2007 3Portsmouth3–1Bolton WanderersPortsmouth, Hampshire
12:45 BST Kanu  16'
Utaka  30'
Taylor  88' (pen.)
Report Anelka  12' Stadium: Fratton Park
Attendance: 17,108
Referee: Steve Tanner
25 August 2007 4Chelsea1–0PortsmouthFulham, London
15:00 BST Lampard  31' Report Davis  52'
Muntari  77'
Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 41,501
Referee: Alan Wiley
2 September 2007 5Arsenal3–1PortsmouthIslington, London
13:30 BST Adebayor  8' (pen.)
Fàbregas  35'
Senderos  49'
Rosický  59'
Report Kanu  60' Stadium: Emirates Stadium
Attendance: 60,114
Referee: Mark Halsey
15 September 2007 6Portsmouth0–0LiverpoolPortsmouth, Hampshire
12:45 BST Bouba Diop  29'
Johnson  64'
Davis  90+3'
Report Alonso  31'
Sissoko  76'
Stadium: Fratton Park
Attendance: 20,388
Referee: Mike Riley
23 September 2007 7Blackburn Rovers0–1PortsmouthBlackburn, Lancashire
15:00 BST Report Kanu  25' Stadium: Ewood Park
Attendance: 19,506
Referee: Chris Foy
29 September 2007 8Portsmouth7–4ReadingPortsmouth, Hampshire
15:00 BST Benjani  7', 37', 70'
Hreiðarsson  55'
Kranjčar  70'
Ingimarsson  81' (o.g.)
Muntari  90+2' (pen.)
Report Hunt  45'
Kitson  48'
Long  79'
Campbell  90+4' (o.g.)
Stadium: Fratton Park
Attendance: 20,102
Referee: Mark Halsey
7 October 2007 9Fulham0–2PortsmouthFulham, London
16:10 Davis  21' Report Benjani  50'
Hreiðarsson  52'
Stadium: Craven Cottage
Attendance: 20,774
Referee: Howard Webb
20 October 2007 10Wigan Athletic0–2PortsmouthWigan, Greater Manchester
Report Benjani  81'
Johnson  86'
Stadium: DW Stadium
Attendance: 17,695
Referee: Peter Walton
27 October 2007 11Portsmouth0–0West Ham UnitedPortsmouth, Hampshire
17:15 BST Report Stadium: Fratton Park
Attendance: 20,525
Referee: Mike Dean
3 November 2007 12Newcastle United1–4PortsmouthNewcastle-upon-Tyne, Tyneside
Campbell  16' (o.g.) Report Pamarot  8'
Benjani  9'
Utaka  11'
Kranjčar  71'
Stadium: St. James' Park
Attendance: 51,490
Referee: Chris Foy
11 November 2007 13Portsmouth0–0Manchester CityPortsmouth, Hampshire
16:00 Report Stadium: Fratton Park
Attendance: 19,529
Referee: Mark Halsey
24 November 2007 14Birmingham City0–2PortsmouthBirmingham, West Midlands
15:00 GMT Report Muntari  34'
Kranjčar  82'
Stadium: St. Andrew's
Attendance: 22,089
Referee: Martin Atkinson
1 December 2007 15Portsmouth0–0EvertonPortsmouth, Hampshire
GMT Report Stadium: Fratton Park
Attendance: 20,102
Referee: Peter Walton
8 December 2007 16Aston Villa1–3PortsmouthBirmingham, West Midlands
12:45 Carew  4'
Berger  67'
Barry  72' (pen.)
Report Gardner  10' (o.g.)
Muntari  40', 61'
Mendes  43'
Johnson  68'
James  74'
Pamarot  75'
Kranjčar  80'
Stadium: Villa Park
Attendance: 35,790
Referee: Mike Riley
22 December 2007 18Liverpool4–1PortsmouthLiverpool, Merseyside
Benayoun  13'
Distin  16' (o.g.)
Torres  67', 85'
Report Benjani  57' Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 43,071
Referee: Mike Riley
26 December 2007 19Portsmouth0–0ArsenalPortsmouth, Hampshire
19:45 GMT Report Stadium: Fratton Park
Attendance: 20,556
Referee: Steve Bennett
29 December 2007 20Portsmouth0–1MiddlesbroughPortsmouth, Hampshire
Report Tuncay  20' Stadium: Fratton Park
Attendance: 20,089
Referee: Alan Wiley
1 January 2008 21Reading0–2PortsmouthReading, Berkshire
15:00 GMT Sonko  3' Report Campbell  9'
Utaka  66'
Stadium: Majewski Stadium
Attendance: 24,084
Referee: Mike Dean
13 January 2008 22Sunderland2–0PortsmouthSunderland
Richardson  33', 44' Report Stadium: Stadium of Light
Attendance: 37,369
Referee: Chris Foy
19 January 2008 23Portsmouth3–1Derby CountyPortsmouth, Hampshire
Benjani  38', 42', 55' Report Nyatanga  4' Stadium: Fratton Park
Attendance: 19,401
Referee: Mike Dean
30 January 2008 24Manchester United2–0PortsmouthTrafford, Greater Manchester
Ronaldo  10', 13' Report Stadium: Old Trafford
Attendance: 75,415
Referee: Martin Atkinson
2 February 2008 25Portsmouth1–1ChelseaPortsmouth, Hampshire
15:00 GMT Defoe  64' Report Anelka  55' Stadium: Fratton Park
Attendance: 20,488
Referee: Howard Webb
9 February 2008 26Bolton Wanderers0–1PortsmouthBolton, Greater Manchester
15:00 GMT [news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/7223964.stm Report] Diarra  81' Stadium: Reebok Stadium
Attendance: 18,544
Referee: Peter Walton
2 February 2008 27Portsmouth1–0SunderlandPortsmouth, Hampshire
Defoe  69' (pen.) Report Stadium: Fratton Park
Attendance: 20,139
Referee: Phil Dowd
2 March 2008 28Everton3–1PortsmouthLiverpool, Merseyside
Yakubu  1', 81'
Cahill  73'
Report Defoe  38' Stadium: Goodison Park
Attendance: 33,938
Referee: Andre Marriner
12 March 2008 29Portsmouth4–2Birmingham CityPortsmouth, Hampshire
19:45 GMT Defoe  6' (pen.), 9'
Hreiðarsson  49'
Kanu  90'
Report Muamba  10'
Larsson  40'
Stadium: Fratton Park
Attendance: 20,138
Referee: Steve Tanner
15 March 2008 30Portsmouth2–0Aston VillaPortsmouth, Hampshire
Defoe  11'
Reo-Coker  38' (o.g.)
Report Stadium: Fratton Park
Attendance: 20,388
Referee: Chris Foy
22 March 2008 31Tottenham Hotspur2–0PortsmouthHaringey, London
Bent  30'
O'Hara  82'
Report Stadium: White Hart Lane
Attendance: 35,998
Referee: Phil Dowd
29 March 2008 32Portsmouth2–0Wigan AthleticPortsmouth, Hampshire
Defoe  32', 90' Report Stadium: Fratton Park
Attendance: 18,623
Referee: Alan Wiley
8 April 2008 33West Ham United0–1PortsmouthLondon
19:45 BST Report Kranjčar  61' Stadium: Upton Park
Attendance: 33,629
Referee: Lee Probert
27 April 2008 36Portsmouth0–1Blackburn RoversPortsmouth, Hampshire
13:30 Report Santa Cruz  74' Stadium: Fratton Park
Attendance: 18,722
Referee: Mike Riley
3 May 2008 37Middlesbrough2–0PortsmouthMiddlesbrough, North Yorkshire
Riggott  40'
Tuncay  53'
Report Stadium: Riverside Stadium
Attendance: 24,828
Referee: Peter Walton
11 May 2008 38Portsmouth0–1FulhamPortsmouth, Hampshire
15:00 Report Murphy  76' Stadium: Fratton Park
Attendance: 20,582
Referee: Mark Clattenburg

Table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
6 Aston Villa 38 16 12 10 71 51 +20 60 Qualification for the Intertoto Cup third round
7 Blackburn Rovers 38 15 13 10 50 48 +2 58
8 Portsmouth 38 16 9 13 48 40 +8 57 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round[lower-alpha 1]
9 Manchester City 38 15 10 13 45 53 8 55 Qualification for the UEFA Cup first qualifying round[lower-alpha 2]
10 West Ham United 38 13 10 15 42 50 8 49
Source: Premier League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
For further information on European qualification see Premier League – Competition
Notes:
  1. As FA Cup winners
  2. Manchester City qualified as the highest-ranked team not already qualified for European competitions of Premier League Fair Play Ranking by The Football Association, the top association among UEFA Fair Play ranking winners.

FA Cup

Opposing TeamForAgainstDateVenueRound
Ipswich Town105 January 2008Portman Road, IpswichThird round
Plymouth Argyle2126 January 2008Fratton Park, PortsmouthFourth round
Preston North End1017 February 2008Deepdale, PrestonFifth round
Manchester United108 March 2008Old Trafford, ManchesterSixth round
West Bromwich Albion105 April 2008Wembley Stadium, LondonSemi-final
Cardiff City 1017 May 2008Wembley Stadium, LondonFinal

League Cup

Opposing TeamForAgainstDateVenueRound
Leeds United3128 August 2007Fratton Park, PortsmouthSecond round
Burnley1025 September 2008Turf Moor, BurnleyThird round
Blackburn Rovers1230 October 2008Fratton Park, PortsmouthFourth round

Statistics

Appearances and goals

No. Pos Nat Player TotalPremier LeagueFA CupLeague Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Goalkeepers
1 GK David James 4203506010
21 GK Jamie Ashdown 50300020
Defenders
3 DF Lucien Aubey 301+200000
4 DF Lauren 18011+401+1010
5 DF Glen Johnson 3612916010
7 DF Hermann Hreiðarsson 39330+23600+10
15 DF Sylvain Distin 4503606030
16 DF Noé Pamarot 22314+411032
20 DF Martin Cranie 301+100010
23 DF Sol Campbell 3713115010
Midfielders
6 MF Lassana Diarra 17211+115100
8 MF Papa Bouba Diop 3202504+101+10
11 MF Sulley Muntari 33527+244100
18 MF Arnold Mvuemba 1203+501+101+10
19 MF Niko Kranjčar 42531+346120
22 MF Richard Hughes 1708+500+2020
28 MF Sean Davis 25018+400+2010
30 MF Pedro Mendes 24014+403030
34 MF Frank Songo'o 100+100000
Forwards
9 FW Milan Baroš 1608+401+3000
10 FW David Nugent 2235+1001+312+12
14 FW Jermain Defoe 1281280000
17 FW John Utaka 36525+45402+10
27 FW Nwankwo Kanu 31713+124520+11
Players transferred out during the season
6 DF Djimi Traoré 501+200020
14 MF Matthew Taylor 1513+101001+10
25 FW Benjani 271221+2121030
26 MF Gary O'Neil 3020000+10

Last updated: 31 May 2018
Source: Competitions

Top scorers

Premier League

Notes

  1. Aubey was born in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, but also qualified to represent France internationally and represented them at U-21 level before making his international debut for the Republic of the Congo in August 2009.
  2. Mvuemba was born in Alençon, France, and represented them at U-21 level, but also qualified to represent the Democratic Republic of the Congo internationally and made his international debut for the DR Congo in 2005.
  3. Begović was born in Trebinje, SFR Yugoslavia (now Bosnia and Herzegovina), but also qualified to represent Canada internationally and represented them at U-20 level before making his international debut for Bosnia and Herzegovina in October 2009.
  4. Songo'o was born in Yaoundé, Cameroon, and represented them at U-23 level, but also qualified to represent France internationally and represented them at U-19 level before making his international debut for Cameroon in September 2008.
  5. Traoré was born in Saint-Ouen, France, but also qualified to represent Mali internationally and made his international debut for Mali in 2004.
  6. O'Brien was born in Harrogate, England, and has represented them at youth level, but also qualified to represent the Republic of Ireland internationally and made his international debut for the Republic of Ireland in 2001.
  7. Wilson was born in Aghagallon, Northern Ireland and represented Northern Ireland at schoolboy level, but also qualifies to represent the Republic of Ireland internationally and represented them at youth level before making his international debut for the Republic of Ireland in February 2011.
  8. Ritchie was born in Gosport, England, but also qualifies to represent Scotland internationally.
  9. Mbuyi-Mutombo was born in Brussels, Belgium, but also qualifies to represent the DR Congo internationally.
  10. Subotić was born in Zagreb, Yugoslavia (now Croatia).

References

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