No sentiment in Spurs, Pompey clash

Tottenham’s collection of Portsmouth old boys will have no sympathy for their crisis-hit former club when the two sides clash on Saturday in a dress-rehearsal for the FA Cup semi-finals.

The English Premier League clash is crucial for both sides as Spurs bid for a Champions League place while Portsmouth continue their near-hopeless but still mathematically possible fight for top-flight survival.

But it also gives the teams a chance to lay down a marker for the Cup semi-final at Wembley on April 11.

Former Pompey manager Harry Redknapp brought Croatia midfielder Niko Kranjcar and England strikers Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe with him to Tottenham after leaving Fratton Park for north London in October 2008.

The south coast club has imploded since, plunging into administration and staring relegation in the face as boardroom chaos, desperate player sales and mounting debts, which led to the imposition of a nine-point penalty for entering administration, have threatened their very existence.

However, Crouch insists his feelings for Portsmouth will count for nothing come kick-off on Saturday.

“I feel for Portsmouth, as it’s a great club and I loved my time there, but there is no sentiment,” giant forward Crouch said.

“I said at the start of the season that I wanted to join a club that were going places and I really believe Tottenham are. So far, I’ve been proved right.”

In the race to secure England’s final Champions League spot, Tottenham are in the all-important fourth place, two points ahead of Manchester City and four ahead of Liverpool, who’ve played one game more, and Aston Villa.

Rock-bottom Portsmouth are 14 points from Premier League safety, with 21 points available. Losing to Spurs could see them relegated next weekend if results go against them.

Spurs have lost only twice in their 17 games this year and are on a three-game winning streak.

“Tottenham are flying in the league. It’s not going to be easy,” said Pompey goalkeeper David James.

“Turbulence and adversity are two words that seem to be in most sentences when Portsmouth are mentioned.

“It’s been frustrating – we can’t deny that. But we’re in a position now where we know what we have to do and – however difficult that task is – we still have to try to tackle it and team spirit will see us through.

“We have belief in our performances and we’ve also got an FA Cup semi-final to look forward to, so there’s a lot to play for.”

While hosts Tottenham were beating Fulham 3-1 in their FA Cup quarter-final replay on Wednesday, Portsmouth were being thrashed 5-0 by title-chasing visitors Chelsea at Fratton Park.

If the defeat alone wasn’t bad enough, it also left them with two more players in the treatment room.

Ricardo Rocha damaged his cheekbone, while Tommy Smith had surgery after breaking his nose.

“We’ll have to see how they are and whether they will be available for the Spurs game,” said coach Paul Groves.

They join Nadir Belhadj, Papa Bouba Diop — both injured in training Tuesday — John Utaka, Hassan Yebda, Kevin-Prince Boateng and Tal Ben Haim on the sidelines.

Portsmouth’s second-top goalscorer Aruna Dindane, on loan from Lens, will miss out again as the club cannot afford to pay the four million pounds (5.9 million dollars, 4.5 million euros) due to the French side should the Ivory Coast striker make another appearance.

Spurs won the reverse fixture in October, beating Pompey 2-1 thanks to goals from Ledley King and Defoe before Boateng pulled one back for the hosts.