Pompey v Birmingham

The second of two home games in quick succession sees Birmingham come to Fratton looking to complete the double over us and not only boost their promotion chances but to hammer down another of the nails in our coffin...

I really enjoyed the weekend game, most enjoyment - especially the 2nd half - that I have had from a game in a long while. We battered Brizzle City but, as has been our problem for as long as I can remember now, we just do not have that goalscorer.

Yep, survival as a club is the priority but we still have to look at things from a footballing viewpoint and survival in the nopower is something we want. Ok, the weekend was a 'must win' game but if we can somehow collect all 3pts tonight then a return of 4pts from 6 is not bad, and most would have taken this, unfortunately the 3pts from Brizzle would have been more favourable for us...

Defeat tonight and I think that any 'outside chances' players could be retained will be done, any hope of retaining a player or two will be over as relegation is a neigh on certainty so we can 100% kiss goodbye to the likes of Pearce and maybe Ward and Varney?

There are no fresh injuries for Appy to worry about so he virtually has a full squad, what is left off it, to select from - Greg Halford is just a booking away from a suspension though.

Dave Kitson - dropped - could return to the squad, what difference would he make though, really?

The major concern is one, or more, players being sold ahead of the game and Appy has stressed how 'disappointed' he would be should that happen...I think Jason Pearce is nailed on to be playing his final game for us though tonight to be honest.

I thought the guy looked pretty useful at the weekend, he certainly wants the ball and can usually do something with it be that good use of his feet to beat a man or create some space. He delivered at least two beauty balls into the 6-yard box at the weekend...problem was no one was on the end of them!

Peter Ramage - tonsillitis - should be fit to return but Jordan Much - suspension - is out as is Erik Huseklepp - ineligible - as he is not allowed to face his parent club, us!

From the reports that I have read the winger 'shinned' for Birmingham in their weekend win over Boro, so the fullbacks could be kept busy by him.

In 95 previous meetings in total Birmingham hold a 42-28 lead, with 25 draws. At Fratton though we hold a 17-12 advantage with the other 16 being draws.

The last meeting came last month with Brum winning 1-0 at St Andrews, the meeting before that was almost 2-years ago to the day with us both premier league sides - they won 2-1 at Fratton just days after we had beaten them to move into the semi finals of the FA cup.

Jerry Maguire - show me the money!

Maybe I am deluded but I just think that if one goal can come others will follow and goals win games and winning is what we desperately need at this point in time...A win is a must, it really is!

Make your prediction here.

The fixtures come thick and fast now, we are off for a dead cert of a '6-pointer' at Coventry on Saturday...

PLAY UP POMPEY!



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