BEZ: MY FEAR; Magpies were miles ahead of Pompey when he arrived at St James's - now Toon fans would love to swap places.

Byline: By LEE RYDER

WHEN John Beresford quit Fratton Park to head for Tyneside in 1992, he did so with Portsmouth and their rusty old stadium heading in completely the opposite direction to Kevin Keegan's buoyant Newcastle United.

That rusty old stadium is still in place in Portsmouth - but Bez knows that fortunes have changed for his two former clubs.

Having beaten Bez's Pompey along the way to stave off relegation, Newcastle were heading for Europe and about to join the upper echelons of top-flight football in England, with KK's fantasy football attracting fans worldwide.

Pompey may well have some way to go before they can match the Mags in terms of stature - but with the FA Cup already in the bag and Fratton Park still buzzing after AC Milan's recent visit to the South Coast, Newcastle fans would love to swap places.

And while the crumbling stands are still on show at Fratton Park, the contrasting levels of achievements in recent years are a telling and painful reminder that life just isn't what it once was up here on Tyneside.

Beresford told the Chronicle: "All I want is to see Newcastle United win football matches.

"But at the moment Pompey fans have it all going for them.

"The club have been transformed in the last three or four years, and good luck to them.

"I remember being at Pompey when they played Newcastle in the penultimate fixture back in the 1991/92 season, and it was massive day for the Geordies.

They knew they could go down if they lost.

"I was injured that day, and it was just after Pompey had lost to Liverpool in the FA Cup semi-finals "Newcastle won 1-0 in the last minute and David Kelly got the goal - you could feel the relief oozing out around the ground as Newcastle had avoided getting relegated to Division Three.

"Now there is an anxiety of a different type."

And Bez firmly believes that this season's Premier League is unique.

He added: "There aren't just four or five teams down there this year - any three from 11 or 12 could be in with a chance of getting relegated.

"They are all in there.

And unlike the game against Stoke City on Saturday, you have to beat them.

"You have to beat the teams around you, otherwise the pressure is on.

"When I look around at the other teams in there - Wigan, Stoke, Blackburn and West Brom - they aren't under as much pressure as Newcastle are when they play at home.

"And I think they will churn out plenty of points.

"When Newcastle failed to beat Stoke, there was plenty of unrest in the air.

"Stoke were there for the taking and the worst side that Newcastle had played this season.

"I've watched them all - Bolton, West Brom and Spurs in the cup - but Stoke were the worst and it should have been three points."

Newcastle have never been in more desperate need of three points going into the trip to Fratton Park.

And Bez added: "Had United beat Stoke, then I would say they had every chance.

"But when you lose a 2-0 lead and concede late on, it changes the mentality a little.

"It will be tough on Sunday but, as always, I'm always just rooting for the lads to win."

CAPTION(S):

IT'S PARTY TIME: Portsmouth clinched the FA Cup last season to qualify for the UEFA Cup; POLES APART: Fratton Park (left) and St James's (right)-but Pompey have got it right on the pitch