Pompey welcome fellow Championship strugglers West Brom to Fratton Park on Saturday for what is a huge game for both clubs.
Both sides’ proximity to the relegation zone remains too close for comfort, with a place in the bottom three potentially awaiting either if they fail to produce the goods at PO4 and results elsewhere go their way.
The Blues’ display against south-coast rivals Southampton at the weekend, amid another injury crisis, will give them hope as they begin their final preparations for the visit of the Baggies.
Boosted by the presence of new signings Millenic Alli and goalscorer Ebou Adams in their starting XI - plus former Birmingham City winger Keshi Anderson (a 71st minutes substitute against the Saints) - John Mousinho’s side proved they are up for the fight as they came from behind to snatch an important point against their fierce rivals.
It also stretched their unbeaten run in the league to three games - something that can’t be sniffed that at this stage of the season, especially from a West Brom perspective as they head to Fratton Park without a win in five games.
The Baggies’ last three points came against QPR at the Hawthorns on December 29, with a 2-1 victory taking them to 32 points, 16th place and nine points clear of the relegation zone. Ryan Mason’s then side were also six points better off than the Blues.
Fast forward to today, though, and WBA are 20th - three points above the bottom three following four defeats in five games, have a new manager in Eric Ramsay, and with the players’ confidence shattered. Pompey are also just two points behind them in 21st but with two fewer games played!
The circumstances guarantees that Saturday’s game will be an intriguing affair, with so much at stake.
And as we approach kick-off, we’ve taken a look at how both Pompey’s and West Brom’s current form compares to the rest of the division and, more importantly, their relegation rivals.
Here’s what we discovered...
