‘DECIMATED’ Portland United are bracing themselves for a tough match at home against Portchester in the Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division tomorrow (3pm).

Portland manager Brendon King admits that his side’s opponents are one of the favourites for the league and says the Blues are missing a few players.

King said: “It will be a tough game. They are one of the favourites for the league, they have got a very strong squad. They have recruited well in the summer and they have a couple of experienced blokes running them so it is going to be really difficult.

When asked how his squad is looking, King said: “Decimated at the minute, which is not great. We have got a few missing, we have got a few away.

“We will see what we have got and go with what we have got. It is not an ideal situation to be in when you are playing one of the favourites for the league.”

So far the start of the season has seen Portland pick up one league win, a 1-0 victory against Arlesford Town on the opening day of the season, and one loss which came in a 2-1 defeat away at Bournemouth Poppies.

Portland did however advance through the extra preliminary round of the FA Cup with a 2-1 win away at Clevedon Town but King says it is still “early days”.

King said: “It has been an OK start. We just feel that at the moment we are not quite clicking, however it is still early days.

“Once everybody starts clicking and playing the way we want to play then things will get better but we have got some results and we have got to grind out victory and get some nasty little wins sometimes and that is what we have done.”