Pompey backed for shut out

As Portsmouth demonstrated when holding Premier League champions Manchester United to a 1-1 draw on Wednesday, they are extremely hard to beat at Fratton Park and it'll be a major surprise if Harry Redknapp's charges don't collect three points against Bolton Wanderers on Saturday. Only four teams - United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Aston Villa - conceded fewer goals at home in the Premiership last term than Pompey, and only one member of the 'big 4', Chelsea, escaped Fratton Park with three points during the 2006/07 campaign - Man Utd and Liverpool both tasted defeat and Arsenal were held to a goalless draw on the last day of the season. Bolton were a solid outfit themselves last season and earned plenty of credit, finishing seventh in the table, two places and two points ahead of Portsmouth. However, we're only two games into the new season and the signs so far have not been particularly encouraging, with a heavy home defeat at the hands of Newcastle followed by a reverse away to Fulham. The Newcastle result would have been especially painful since it was former boss Sam Allardyce's first visit to the Reebok since parting ways with the Trotters at the end of last season. Many are questioning whether new gaffer Sammy Lee will get the same tune out of Bolton as his predecessor and consequently, Lee is clear favourite across the board to be the first manager to leave/be sacked during 2007/08. There are a lot of new faces at Bolton and it may be that it's going to take a good few games before they start to gel and, therefore, perhaps it's unwise to write them off at this stage, as many seem to be doing. Redknapp is a past-master when it comes to the transfer market and once again pulled of some coups during the summer, particularly by landing David Nugent from Preston. The 22-year-old has played in Pompey's two matches - the first of which was a gritty 2-2 draw away to newly promoted Derby - and while he has yet to score, the goals will undoubtedly come. Benjani has netted two of Portsmouth's three Premier League goals so far and the Zimbabwean is a striker to follow this season. At 13/2 with Paddy Power, it is tempting to back him in the first goalscorer market, but the most alluring punting proposition is to back Portsmouth in the to win to nil market at 21/10 with the same firm. verdict: 3pts Portsmouth to win to nil @ 21/10 (Paddy Power)Benjani to score first @ 13/2 (Paddy Power)