Just Desserts

With his eye on the F.A. Cup quarter final clash with Manchester City and his mind in limbo, Alan Pardew left out Dean Ashton, Marlon Harewood, Matthew Etherington, Yossi Benayoun and Hayden Mullins for the game with relegation haunted Portsmouth and got what many will feel he deserved – a 4-2 hammering from Pompey and a verbal hammering from his own fans.

By contrast, it was a triumphant return to Upton Park for Harry Redknapp – an ex-Hammers boss who clearly is still held in the highest esteem.

Something Pardew can at present only dream about.