Portsmouth pub guide

In truth, a 15:00 kick off probably won't give you much time to enjoy a pre-match pint, but for those of you that are looking for a tipple, here a few suggestions.

The pub that will get most packed out with reds is The Shepherd’s Crook, at 107 Goldsmith Avenue. It's a five-minute walk to the ground.

It's got one fairly large main room with standing room only and the bar staff serve pretty quickly.

It opens at 11:30am and will probably pack out by about 13:30, so expect to be out in the cold in the front 'beer garden' if you arrive after that.

Carling and Carlsberg costs £2.80 a pint, Stella is £3.20 and Guinness is £3.10.

If you fancy somewhere a bit quieter, venture a little further from the ground to the Brewers Arms, at 170 Milton Road.

It's a small, welcoming pub, with sandwiches for sale behind the bar
You can choose from Stella, Kronenberg, Guinnness. Carlsberg and Fosters. It also offers London Pride and bottled Becks and Peroni.

Also near the ground is Good Companion, at 2 Eastern Road, which attracts both home and away fans in two large rooms.

There's a big screen TV for anyone who wants to catch the early kick off between Northwich Victoria and Lincoln City on ITV1.

You'll get serve pretty quickly at the bar and on offer is Carling, Fosters, Stella and Becks £2.80 as well as Guinness and IPA, all under £3.

They also do a wide-ranging menu, with meals priced at about £6. It opens at 11:00.
The Connaught Arms at 119 Guildford Road is also worth a shout.

Avoid the Newcombe Arms, as it's a partisan home-fan pubs.

You will find cash machines by the Tesco on Goldsmith Avenue near the Shepherd's Crook and a Nationwide Building Society one at the Total garage on Milton Road, just down from the Brewers Arms.

For a full travel guide, click here.

United in the news

Youth clubbed - Fergie's kids taught a lesson (The Sun)

ALEX FERGUSON saw his youth clubbed as Besiktas stole the points at Old Trafford. More.

Manchester United's next generation still have plenty to prove (Paul Wilson, The Guardian)

Some good news for Liverpool at last. Manchester United's kids were not quite good enough to make finishing on top of Group B look easy. More.

Manchester United turn to £11m Danish defender Simon Kjaer to replace unsettled Nemanja Vidic (Neil Moxley, Daily Mail)

Sir Alex Ferguson has identified Denmark international Simon Kjaer (pictured) as the replacement for Manchester United’s unsettled defender Nemanja Vidic. More.

Dzeko set to snub Prem trio (The Sun)

The Bosnian striker was linked with Manchester United, Manchester City and Arsenal after smashing 26 goals in the Bundesliga last season. More.

Sir Alex Ferguson denies Manchester United move for Russian keeper (The Mirror)

He has denied he will make a January bid for CSKA Moscow goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev. More.

Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor is good enough for Man Utd, says Alexander Hleb (Ewing Grahame, Daily Telegraph)

Stuttgart playmaker Alexander Hleb offered words of consolation to Rangers goalkeeper Allan McGregor in the wake of the 2-0 defeat at Ibrox. More.

Save £12.20 on your train to Birmingham

United face Birmingham at St Andrews on Saturday, January 9, kick off 17:30 and, if you buy your train ticket on the day, you'll pay £28.70 for an off peak return.

But if you buy now via Virgin Trains, you can get a return for £16.50.

With a 19:30 finish at the latest anticipated, it will probably take you about 30 minutes to reach Birmingham New Street from the ground.

So if you were to get the 20:20 service to Crewe and then board the 21:19 to Manchester Piccadilly, a single will cost you £6.50.

Practically every direct train from Manchester to Birmingham currently costs £10 single.

Match ticket information is here.

Betty Bus full for Portsmouth trip

There are no places left on the Betty Bus for this Saturday's trip to Portsmouth.

Places still remain for the Saturday, December 5 trip to West Ham. They cost £35 per person.

The coach will leave from Chorlton Street Coach Station at 06:30 and from the Bishops Blaize pub in Chester Road from 06:45.

Bookings are now also being taken for the Saturday, December 19 trip to Fulham. Places cost £35 per person.
The coach will leave from Chorlton Street Coach Station at 06:30 and from the Bishops Blaize pub in Chester Road from 06:45.

To book, email your name and contact number to redsaway@hotmail.co.uk

Fans choose new design for OT banner

The votes are in and the results are out. This will be the new banner that will adorn the Stretford End from mid-December onwards.

The design got the most votes when supporters' group Stretford End Flags asked people who had donated to the group to choose which was the best out of three banners created by reds from all over the world.

A SEF spokesman said: "The banner received 58 per cent of the vote.

"It will now be mad and will be positioned on the front of the Stretford End.

"The line up of banner son the Stretford End will now be: City Ticker, One Love - Stretford End, The Flowers of Manchester, MANCHESTER IS MY HEAVEN and Lest Us Forget.

"All of the banners will be predominantly black, with only the one Love banner having half red.

"We will now consult members over the background colour of the new banner."

"We will try and obtain mock ups for a red, white and black background."

United n the news

Nemanja Vidic exit looming (Ian Ladyman, Daily Mail)

Despite the 28-year-old Serbian denying suggestions earlier this year that his wife Ana was unhappy in England, it remains the case that the couple do have an eye on a move to southern Europe — in all likelihood Spain. More.

Sir Alex Ferguson fears he could lose Nemenja Vidic to Barcelona and Real Madrid (James Ducker, The Times)

Jack Rodwell, the Everton utility player, has been identified by United as a star of the future. More.

Alan Wiley decides not to sue Sir Alex Ferguson for defamation (The Guardian)

Alan Wiley has decided against suing Sir Alex Ferguson for defamation but has expressed his "bitter disappointment" at the Manchester United manager's verbal attack on his fitness. More.

Utd’s Harg is still alive ’n kicking (Neil Custis, The Sun)

Owen Hargeaves has kicked his first ball in anger after more than a year out. More.

Sir Alex Ferguson in the dark over the future of Manchester United keeper Edwin van der Sar (Daily Mail)

'I don't know his plans,' said the United chief. 'When you get to that age and have a young family, there are a lot of things to consider. More.

Injury-jinxed Wes is still best (Neil Custis, The Sun)

"I'm delighted to have him back because I know the experience he can bring to the back four," Ferguson said. More.

West Ham determined to keep Cole (The Independent)

The England hit-man has been linked with a move away in the January transfer window, with Liverpool and Manchester United reportedly showing interest. More.

United in the news

Manchester United and Chelsea miss out on teenage defender Nicolai Boilesen (Daily Mail)

Manchester United and Chelsea have missed out on Brondby's highly-rated Danish defender Nicolai Boilesen after the 17-year-old agreed to join Ajax. More.

Time for Ant to deck ‘em (The Sun)

Alex Ferguson has told Manchester United winger Antonio Valencia to shoot on sight. More.

Stars too thick to buy a fridge (Paul Jiggins, The Sun)

Gary Neville has blasted the Premier League's multi-millionaire stars for stupidly wasting money on agents. More.

Darren Fletcher: Manchester United can be stronger without Ronaldo (David Anderson, The Mirror)

"Hopefully we can become a more-rounded team and other players will raise their game to cover the gap left by his absence." More.