For Hull this match marks the start of life without Phil Brown. He has been replaced by Iain Dowie, who knows all about life at the bottom end of the Premier League following spells as manager at Crystal Palace and Charlton, as well as assistant to Alan Shearer at Newcastle last season. On each occasion, his side have been relegated. Defeat today would make it more likely that Hull will go down alongside Portsmouth, who have just been docked nine points and now have only the FA Cup to look forward to this season. Tim Wigmore

Venue Fratton Park, Saturday 3pm

Tickets £20-38 (0844 847 1898)

Last season Portsmouth 2 Hull 2

Referee P Dowd

This season’s matches 22 Y69, R4, 3.32 cards per game

Odds Portsmouth 6-5 Hull 13-5 Draw 12-5

Portsmouth

Subs from Ashdown, Vanden Borre, Mokoena, Webber, Dindane, Mullins, Kanu, Yebda, Smith, Boateng, Ritchie, Hughes, Basinas, Utaka

Doubtful Boateng (ankle), James (calf), Smith (groin), Utaka (groin), Yebda (knee)

Injured Vanden Borre (hamstring, 27 Mar), Ben Haim (groin, 27 Mar)

Suspended None

Form guide LLWLDL

Disciplinary record Y62 R4

Leading scorers Dindane, Piquionne 5

Hull

Subs from Duke, McShane, Kilbane, Cairney, Altidore, Ghilas, Barmby, Cooper, Garcia, Fagan, Marney, Folan

Doubtful Geovanni (knee), Hunt (foot)

Injured Ashbee (knee, unknown), Gardner (ankle, unknown)

Suspended Boateng (one match)

Form guide LLLLWD

Disciplinary record Y53 R5

Leading scorer Hunt 6

Match pointers

• Portsmouth are unbeaten in their last eight league meetings with Hull

• Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink has committed more fouls without being booked (38) than any other player in the top flight this season

• Portsmouth have conceded the first goal in 21 of their 29 league games this season

• Hull have had a player sent off in three of their last four Premier League matches

• Jamie O’Hara has had more shots at goal than any other Portsmouth player (63) but has only found the net once in the league in 2009-10

Premier LeaguePortsmouthHull Cityguardian.co.uk

• Midfielder sent off in Hull’s 1-0 defeat at Blackburn
• Boateng avoids three-match ban with successful appeal

The Hull City midfielder George Boateng today succeeded in an appeal against his dismissal at Blackburn Rovers and his three-match ban has been withdrawn.

The Football Association announced the verdict, which was determined at an independent regulatory commission hearing.

Boateng, 34, was dismissed in Wednesday’s match at Ewood Park after the match referee, Lee Probert, determined his challenge on Morten Gamst Pedersen merited a straight red card.

The Hull manager Phil Brown criticised the dismissal after the match, which the visitors lost 1-0, saying: “To say it is a nonsense is an understatement. It is clearly a clash of heads and a brave challenge by both players.”

Hull CityBlackburn RoversPremier Leagueguardian.co.uk