Here is Bazza’s report from Tuesday night.

I went straight from work to Will’s place where I met his wife Julie for the first time. I introduced myself and said that yes, I really was the serial killer she thought I was given that Will had met me originally via the blog and therefore the internet. She thinks I’m joking so that’s all right then! Chris, Will’s brother had travelled down from Warwickshire for the game and to have a round of golf in the afternoon whilst muggings had to work. We set off for the short journey south to Portsmouth and managed to grab a pie and a hot drink in the ground. Will still cannot get over the fact that I hate Bovril and I settled instead for tea. We found our place in the stands and hoped we didn’t play like we did at the weekend.

What a difference from the events of Saturday? This was an impressive win following what must have been a bitterly disappointing defeat to the same team just three days earlier. Blues made four changes to the Saturday line up with Michel starting in place of Bowyer, Benitez was restored to the starting line up with McFadden demoted to the bench. Out also went Larsson who was replaced by Gardner and Fergusson took over from the rested Stephen Carr as captain, his place in the side being taken by Parnaby. The side had a better balance to it and as was the case at the weekend Blues dominated proceedings from the off with the essential difference that we looked dangerous going forward with Chucho adding that bit of spice that resulted in an early opener for Cameron Jerome in the 14th minute. A lovely touch through to the striker from his partner on the edge of the area gave Jerome the opening which he drilled low just inside the far post to send the assembled throng of noses wild with delight. Not only were we ahead but we were playing some slick flowing football in the middle of the park orchestrated by Michel who looked sure of touch, poised on the ball with an ability to pick a pass that always seemed to be delivered to the feet of a team mate! The stuff of dreams for a Blues side playing on this occasion in the white kit with the red penguin stripe down the front rather than the black strip that was still in the wash from Saturday. Portsmouth for their part were second best in the opening period and were opened up again when Benitez found himself one on one with David James in the middle of the goal with either side to choose to deliver the ball into. He chooses to dribble round the keeper only to be tackled by Hreidarsson. The frustrations of the travelling faithful were tangible as heads went into hands and expletives abounded. Nevertheless, within minutes the little Ecuadorian had made amends when a clever little back heel split the Pompey defence for Jerome to stroke the ball under the body of the diving James for 2 – 0. This score on 42 minutes was the least that Blues deserved and it could have been more such was the superiority that Blues held over their hapless opponents.

The second half was more one of containment of what Portsmouth had to offer which wasn’t a great deal to be honest and Blues should have added to their tally when Fahey delivered a cross too far in front of Jerome having carved Pompey open again. Dann missed a very presentable chance from fifteen yards placing his effort over the bar instead of the top corner and McFadden who came on late for the tiring Benitez almost caught James napping with a fierce shot towards the near post. Despite giving the eyes, James was equal to the save. The Pompey keeper was given a hard time by the noses behind him especially as he mimed the scooping out of a ball from the net just prior to the second half starting. We gave back with interest but the banter did descend somewhat into obscene chants about activities of his England team mate John Terry and what he may have done with James’ wife, sister, mother etc. We also sang ‘we’ll meet again’ and ‘we’ll never play you again,’ ‘Pay up Pompey!’ and many many more but my favourite of the evening was to the tune of the Conga ‘Let’s all have a whip round!’ Chris turned to me and said “Yow know why we know all the words of all these songs don’t ya?” “Why?” I said, “Cos we’ve ‘eard em sung to us so many times!” The only blemish of the evening was allowing Portsmouth a consolation goal in the 92nd minute when Kanu, a late Pompey substitute netted an inswinging cross to give us all a nervy last couple of minutes and Pompey, hope their performance did not merit. Fortunately, Blues held on comfortably enough but the margin should have been far greater than it was.

This was a very good win in the circumstances but before getting carried away with hyperbole, the quality of the opposition has to be taken into account. Portsmouth are bottom of the league for a reason and that is that they have lost 19 of their 28 games to date. They were outplayed by Blues last night which makes the loss to them on Saturday all the more frustrating. As I said in my last report, we lost it rather than them winning it with poor team selection and tactics in contrast to this game when the balance was correct, the ball moved slicker and the tempo was higher and we got in amongst them. I am still concerned that we still at times gave the home team too much space to play out wide especially in the first half and improvement will be needed against a resurgent and continually improving Everton who visit St Andrews on Saturday. We will pay heavily if this area is not tightened up on. There were things nevertheless to be encouraged about especially the performances of Michel, Gardner and Benitez. Jerome was also as excellent as he was awful on Saturday and took his goals well. It was sad to see Parnaby who had had a good game to the point where he limped off injured have to leave the field prematurely. He was ably replaced by Tainio.

Alex McCleish has intimated that we do not have enough firepower to challenge for a Europa League spot and I agree. Whilst the league standing may suggest we are in with a shout I think the realistic view is that we are not good enough yet but I am happy to be proved wrong. We have ten games left and before last night McCleish had set a target of 51 points or a point a game for the remaining fixtures. This may sound cautious but with away games at Sunderland, Blackburn, Manchester City, Vile and Bolton and at home fixtures against Everton, Arsenal, Liverpool, Hull and Burnley, I simply think he’s being realistic. Any more than 51 will be a bonus but I suspect whatever we finish up with will not be enough for a place in Europe. The facts remain that we need a centre forward who can deliver 15 goals minimum, fast wide men and a cover at full back down both flanks. Then and only then may we be able to compete.

KRO SOTV