Fratton Faithful takes an in-depth look at the run in of each of the teams, and attempts to give an incline on what to expect over the next month.
Birmingham
Aston Villa (A)
Blackburn (H)
Everton (A)
Newcastle (H)
Bolton (A)
Birmingham have a crucial game to kick off their final five with a Second City Derby against arch rivals Aston Villa. I believe this game to be absolutely crucial to their survival and should they win then I do believe they will be favourites to survive regardless of what we and West Brom do. We ourselves should know what a derby victory can do when you're fighting for your lives. However if they lose this game against a poor Villa side I think it could crush their hopes completely, obviously only a fool would write them off completely but it would be a huge blow to their chances. I personally think it'll be a draw...
Following that comes a home fixture against Blackburn. Let's hope Bellamy is fit for that one eh? Then comes a nasty trip to Everton, where The Toffees have been so strong recently, a home fixture against Newcastle who will hopefully have Michael Owen back and then a trip to Bolton on the final day and let's face it, nobody ever wants to go to Bolton on the final day. I predict a total of 34-37 points for Birmingham City.
West Bromwich Albion
Arsenal (A)
Bolton (H)
Newcastle (A)
West Ham (H)
Everton (A)
Out of the three of us down there, I believe West Brom to have the hardest fixture list on paper. A trip to Highbury is the last thing you want when you're down the bottom and I'm sure Arsenal will want to get back to winning ways at home after we nicked a point from them. West Brom are strong at home however and with Bolton on a bad run of form the Baggies will probably fancy their chances of victory against Big Sam's men.
Newcastle away will be tough, The Toon have a generally good home form and at St. James' Park they will probably be too tough for West Brom who have a terrible away record. West Ham at home I think is a game they'll win however as The Hammers are wavering a bit and seem to be focused on winning the FA Cup. Everton away on the last day though... how ironic would it be if James Beattie; the Scummer of all Scummers, scored the goal that sent The Baggies down and kept us up? I am also predicting a total on 34-37 points for Bryan Robson's team.
Pompey
Middlesbrough (H)
Charlton (A)
Sunderland (H)
Wigan (A)
Liverpool (H)
On paper we have it easier than the other two teams around us with three home games, two of them against bottom half certainties this season and those are the games we will be looking to win especially. Middlesbrough at home is a game I am looking at and thinking if we want to survive then we have to win this one. Boro are the model on inconsistancy and never perform against the lower teams, they'll mainly be focused on getting to two cup finals and we are their bogey team. It all points to a home win. Following that we have a trip to Charlton whose season is usually ended by now.
If we fail to beat Sunderland then we don't deserve to survive in my opinion. They are probably the worst Premiership side I have ever seen so as long as we are professional and play as well as we have been Sunderland should be a rollover. Then comes an away trip to Wigan who haven't won at home since Boxing Day, so here's hoping they beat Villa at home so to not have to break their jinx against us. Who knows? Maybe Arjan De Zeeuw will do his old pal 'Arry a favour!
Which brings us to the final day... Liverpool at home. There's still every possibility we might be safe or already relegated by the time this game arrives but I have that feeling it will come down to the last day and Liverpool do have a history of breaking Pompey hearts. However I am in the belief that in front of our own fans, with so much at stake we will deliver. I'm personally not going to make any predictions for us but in my view 38 points is what will ensure we are playing Premiership football again next season. I'm not saying that is what we should aim for though, mathematically we can finish the season on 44 points and that is what we should aim for, to win every game.
Of course there is an outside chance that Villa or Fulham could get dragged into the relegation scenario with both laying on 36 points but you would have to say they will pick up 4 points between now and the end of the season, especially with Sunderland on their fixture lists.
One thing I do know for certain is that it's gonna get extremely tense in the coming weeks, there will be more twists and turns to come in the relegation dogfight but it's all about who comes out on top and although nothing is determined now I think we will have a much better picture after Easter Monday. I just hope that picture is illustrating Pompey survival.