Portsmouth haven't won at home in four and Birmingham have lost their last three on the road so tomorrow's early clash between the two sides is difficult to call.
Despite all the off the field problems facing Pompey they still managed to beat Burnley last week and in the previous round of the FA Cup their settled local bragging rights with a comprehensive victory over Southampton. The stats do speak for themselves and with regards Portsmouth they don't shout from the page. In the league this season they have only won three from thirteen and in nearly 80% of home matches they haven't been able to ask for the winners menu after the game.
Birmingham were the puntinplay.com FA Cup tip and if you have taken the 101 then you have plenty of in play scope. McLeish has done a fantastic job this year. Last week they beat Wigan 1-0 in a victory that was far more comprehensive than the scoreline indicates. This put the Blues on forty points for the season and effectively ended any chance of a flirtatious relationship with the relegation candidates. City have lost their last three away but two of those were against Chelsea and Fulham, sides with a very strong home record and perhaps the only bad performance recently has been in the 2-0 defeat at West Ham. City have been drawn to play away from home in rounds three,four and five.
http://www.puntinplay.com/story/birmingham-still-101-for-the-cup
There is no doubt that this looks close and Portsmouth may benefit from a “backs to the wall” mental approach but from an odds perspective the Premier League table doesn't need to go to the confessional box so Birmingham should be favourites. They are not and this indicates value with the Blues, however this one may need a second act at St. Andrews in ten days time and the draw is the recommendation.
