Pompey fell victim to the old outcome of losing to the same team straight after outplaying them, on Saturday our second half display raised hopes of the most unlikely of relegation escapes, today just highlighted why we look doomed.
John Utaka was the only absentee from Saturday, his place was taken by Dindane and he was certainly active in the opening quarter of an hour, Pompey started fairly brightly, but Hart was never seriously tested as Birmingham struggled to find a foothold in the game.
A foothold they found however, Jerome being played in a square looking Pompey defence and he slotted home from six yards.
The goal seemed to jolt Pompey into what was to be one of their most disjointed games of a lousy season, the passing went astray and some basic control disappeared from certain players feet.
Pompey tried to force an equaliser, but Birmingham’s defence was equal to anything we could muster, Pompey were very average at best.
Benitez should of made it 2, he found himself in acres of space, rounded James but dithered enough for Hreidarsson to make a block tackle.
He was mot to be put off though, moments befor half-time he back-heeled through Pompey’s rearguard and Jerome blasted through David James, 2 dowm with the hill turning into a mountain.
Avram Grant decided to bring on Quincy and Basinas in place of the equally ineffective Wilson and Webber, attack was obviously paramount in his thoughts.
Jerome was closest to scoring again though, if the cross from the left was a bit better he would of had a tap-in with Belhadj absent, the ball in though was to firm and gave him no chance.
An hour had passed and Pompey were still not in the office, the crosses were bombing in, but no-one in blue seemed able to meet them.
Frustration was starting to bubble up, Belhadj reverting to type by flying in on Larsson when a one-two with Quincy never materialised, his temper had frayed and the tackle was reminiscent of his one last season against Villa.
Kanu was on, but it ws Dindane who almost gave us a lifeline, he fired in a shot from the angle, but hart was equal to it and made his first real save of the half with only 1 minute of normal time left.
Pompey did find the net though, with 4 minutes of added time, O’Hara played a short corner and found the head of Kanu who nodded home, it was a goal Pompey scarcely deserved on a really poor showing, the time ticked past and with it so did Pompey’s chance of any possible result, we may be alive in the FA cup, but in terms of the Premiership we are taking our dying breaths.
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