So behold: Fratton Faithful's comprehensive guide to the nine possible combinations of results for Pompey and Birmingham this Saturday and what permutations those results would bring for the final day.
#1 Pompey Win - Birmingham Win
Should both teams be winners on Saturday then it's pretty much as you were with goal difference not really an issue unless we beat Wigan by at least six goals. Birmingham would have to go to Bolton and win for them to have any chance of survival. However if they did then we would have to beat Liverpool as a draw would put us level on points and Birmingham would survive on goal difference.
#2 Pompey Win - Birmingham Draw
It's all over. Bruce and his moaning cronies would be relegated as Pompey party in Wigan. The final day would arrive and we wouldn't have to worry about such nightmares as Peter Crouch scoring a last minute winner to send us down.
#3 Pompey Win - Birmingham Lose
As above but the Brummies would have to be worried about insult being added to injury as they fight to stay 18th with the Baggies.
#4 Pompey Draw - Birmingham Win
We'd both be on 36 points going into the final day fixture however Birmingham would have a superior goal difference meaning if they win at Bolton our result is academic. We would have to better their result on that day.
#5 Pompey Draw - Birmingham Draw
See outcome #1 although goal difference would not be a factor on the final day. Birmingham's would be better.
#6 Pompey Draw - Birmingham Lose
Pompey would be three points clear of Birmingham forcing them to go and win at Bolton to stand any chance of survival. However any positive result for us against Liverpool would render the result at The Reebok useless for the Blues.
#7 Pompey Lose - Birmingham Win
The worst case scenario! Birmingham would leap us and would have a one point advantage over Pompey. Therefore we must beat Liverpool on the final day and even if we do, we'd have to hope Birmingham didn't win at Bolton.
#8 Pompey Lose - Birmingham Draw
Should this outcome turn out true then we would have to equal or beat Birmingham's result to be absolutely sure of survival. If both teams lose on the final day we will survive however if we lose and Birmingham pick up even a single point against Bolton, we will be joining Southampton in the Championship.
#9 Pompey Lose - Birmingham Lose
Pretty much the same permutations as outcome #5 barring the chance we are narrowly beaten by Wigan whilst Birmingham are hammered by a cricket score by Newcastle. However you'd then have to take into account that West Brom would fancy their chances of another great escape should they beat West Ham on Saturday.
So that's it! All you need to know about the final two games of the season. Ideally as Pompey fans we'd love outcomes #2 and #3 but I would also be happy with outcome #6. Whatever happens at least you can refer to this article now before Saturday instead of making your brain do some work instead.