Next phase of the vital month

You may remember back along I wrote and article titled 'A crucial month for Pompey - here.'

Well, if not - and check out the link, I spoke about February pretty much being a 'defining month' for us, and a month that could leave things VERY MUCH in our own hands as far as relegation worries go...

Well, having had a 'decent' start to the month, at least points wise, it is now vital that we kick-on!

As said in that article when you looked at these fixtures for this month, below, you could not help but think 'ding dong'.

QPR (a)
Derby (h)
Doncaster (a)
Barnsley (h)
Palace (h)
Ipswich (a)

We gave a good account of ourselves at QPR, were as poor as Derby in that game at Fratton yet still got a point - that seemed unlikely - and whilst far from spectacular against Doncaster picked up a comfortable 2-0 win.

So, 4pts from these 3 games is not 'really' a bad return it is?

Few would have expected anything from QPR, a win against Derby would, in fact you could argue should, have been expected but then a point at Donny would have been acceptable so it is swings and roundabouts really.

Now comes for the real meaty portion of our month methinks!

Barnsley and Palace, Saturday and Tuesday, sees the start of a number of home games coming up over the next months - home games that are all 'winnable' really.

A further 4pts, minimum, should be the expectation from these games I reckon, and that would not - or should not be - too much to aim for really.

'Should' we get at least 4pts, ideally 6pts, from these then it really eases the pressure as far as relegation goes and will enable us to go into the final game of the month at Ipswich far more relaxed and then go into March in positive spirits.

Its time that we started making Fratton a fortress again, with all due respect to Barnsley and Palace I am not convinced that we will have a better opportunity to get this ball rolling again, now is the time to make the most of it...

PLAY UP POMPEY!

Click here to make your prediction: Pompey v Palace.