Portsmouth Pair Preview This Evening

Last updated : 22 September 2009 By Thetashkentterror
Michael Brown
Portsmouth midfielder Michael Brown spoke to The News about his side's third round Carling Cup against Carlisle at Brunton Park tonight, Hartlepool-born Brown giving some geography lessons in the Pompey dressing-room :


" There are a few people in the dressing-room we've got from all around the world who probably haven't been to Carlisle and will say "where is Carlisle? What is it? But they'll soon know what Carlisle is. I definitely know what Carlisle will be about. I can see straightaway what we are going to be up against and we've got to make sure we are ready for it.

" It will be a real tough game and they will be looking forward to getting us there. I played there before a long time ago. I'm from Hartlepool - Carlisle is a little bit further north - and I just know it's going to be a real tough time. It will be like a cup final for them. I remember with Tottenham we went to Grimsby in the Carling Cup and went out.

" I'm sure they'll be closing us down in a big way and stopping us playing because I think they'll look at the Portsmouth team and see we play football. We're not trying to lump it forward and I think you could see over the last few games we've had great possession. The Bolton game was probably 60/40. It will be a nice change, a good change to go and try to get a result and progress into the next round - but it's going to be a horrible, tough game. And we'll be ready for them.

" I think it's good to be just away from the league and it's come at the right time. First and foremost we've got to creep up that league and get some points. We've got to be on our mettle and try to get a good result which can give us a bit of confidence for Everton. "

 


Meanwhile cup-tied Spurs loanee midfielder Jamie O'Hara, who last time out at Brunton Park stormed off down the tunnel after being substituted just 35 minutes into Millwall's 4-0 defeat in October 2007, thinks the Premier League is more important for Pompey :

" We've got to think about staying in the Premier League first and foremost. I think that's the main thing this season. We've got to treat every game in the Premier League like it's our last game we are going to play. Obviously it's frustrating not playing tonight - I want to play in every game. But it gives me a week to get right for the Everton game and hopefully help us start picking up points. "