January brought three league defeats, February five successive draws. If Pompey are to re-ignite their promotion push, March will need to be the month when wins outweigh other results.

It's probably no exaggeration to say that if the Blues have genuine hopes of making the top two, despite their two-month search for a win, then nine points from the next 12 is probably the minimum needed.

This weekend - on paper at least - brings the perfect chance to kickstart the month on a winning note with bottom four side Bradford visiting Fratton. But if football were that simple, it would not be half the game it is.

Bradford arrive on the south coast under the caretaker management of Martin Drury following the resignation of David Hopkin on Monday. Hopkin himself was the Bantams' second manager of the season.

Pompey boss Kenny Jackett, who will be without Christian Burgess and Omar Bogle along with other longer-term absentees, is unsure - and perhaps untroubled - what effect a change of boss will have on Bradford, who have only won once since New Year's Day (a struggle for results which sounds all to familiar).

Jackett told the Pompey website: 'I don’t know if it changes things. It shows the strength of the division that a club as big as that have been in the bottom four for the majority of the season.

'You look through their squad and they have a talented bunch — we’ll certainly respect them as we would any opponent. But our focus is on ourselves and making sure we can keep improving as a team, putting on a performance that will bring the crowd into play.'

Pompey head into the weekend in fourth place - five points behind Barnsley, who are second, are Sunderland, third. Charlton lurk three points behind the Blues in fifth.

This weekend's games see Barnsley go to Southend, Sunderland host Plymouth and Charlton go to Doncaster for a sixth v fifth game. Leaders Luton, 10 points in front of Pompey, are at home to Rochdale.

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