Cooper starts against former club as Davis misses out (From The Argus)

Cooper starts against former club as Davis misses out

2:58pm Sunday 9th September 2012 in Sport By Steve Hollis

Shaun Cooper will start against the club he began his career with as Crawley take on Portsmouth at Broadfield Stadium today.

Cooper joined Pompey as a 16-year-old on YTS forms but was released when Harry Redknapp took over at Fratton Park.

The former Bournemouth utility player gets the nod to replace Claude Davis in the centre of defence who has failed to recover from a hip injury.

Mike Jones is handed his full league debut on the left-hand side of midfield with Billy Clarke having to settle for a place on the bench as Nicky Ajose is preferred as Gary Alexander's partner up front.

Portsmouth hand a debut to former Cardiff defender Gabor Gyepes who signed as a free agent on Friday.

They also include former Crawley target Izale McLeod in attack but their financial problems are highlighted by the fact they can only name six substitutes.

Crawley (4-4-2): Jones; Hunt, McFadzean, Cooper, Sadler; Adams, Akpan, Simpson, M Jones; Ajose, Alexander. Subs: Connolly, Clarke, Forte, Walsh, Bulman, Neilson, Kuipers.

Portsmouth (4-4-2): Andersen; Gyepes, Long, Thompson, Harley; Williamson, Howard, Russell, Compton; McLeod, Rodgers. Subs: Walker, Eastwood, Clifford, Ertl, Harris, Webster.