It seems that the season end blues have caught up with Pompey after another defeat at the weekend to a Middlesbrough side who have now firmly secured their Premier League status for next season. Tuncay and Chris Riggott, recalled from a loan spell from Championship side Stoke City, each scored a goal to give the home side a comfortable victory against Pompey. Both goals came from corners and manager Harry Redknapp was unhappy with his side's marking. He told the BBC website, "The players have got to play well if they want to play in the [FA] Cup final. It was disappointing today, very disappointing." Another defeat leaves the club in eighth place, a point Blackburn Rovers who occupy the seventh spot. A victory next week and other results going their way, Portsmouth could end the season in sixth place, their highest ever finish in the top flight.
It would cap off a fantastic end to the season if Pompey reach such a position in the Premiership, as well as winning the FA Cup Final. But if Pompey wanted to eclipse this next season and break into the top four of the Premier League, Redknapp believes that this would cost £150 million to do this. He told Sky Sports, "I agree with Kevin Keegan, I do not see any way that anyone else can break into the top four." Keegan also believes that the league is getting boring with Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool always finishing in the top four places. But several clubs have come close in the past. Tottenham, a few seasons ago, dominated fourth place for the entire season, until the final day when their rivals Arsenal pipped them to UEFA Champions League football. Everton actually managed to finish in fourth spot in the same season as their fellow Merseysiders' Liverpool won the Champions League. The league is certainly dominated by the top four, but that does not mean that other sides can't break into that group. But what helps the top sides in their superiority is having the ability to attract top players away from smaller clubs. The Croatian Pompey midfielder, Niko Kranjcar, who has been excellent for his side this season, is rumoured to be on the top of Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger's summer wish list, especially after the departure of Mathieu Flamini. It is difficult to keep players at the smaller clubs, particularly when the top four can offer Champions League football, silverware and normally higher wages. This is what keeps the big-four at the summit of the Premier League.
If Portsmouth hope to win some silverware this season, a victory next weekend against relegation-threatened Fulham would be the best preparation for the final against Cardiff. As a result, Redknapp has refused to rest certain players for fear of injury and promised to play his strongest side next weekend. He told Sky Sports, "I will field a full strength side as I owe that to other people in a relegation battle." Fulham are fighting for their Premiership lives at the moment but three victories out of four has seen them jump out of the relegation zone for the first time since December, and a victory at Fratton Park this weekend would ensure their Premiership status next season. Birmingham City and Reading also find themselves at the wrong end of the table, and with Derby County already relegated, two of the three sides will be playing Championship football next season. At the other end of the table, Manchester United, who travel to Wigan, just need to equal Chelsea's result against Bolton to retain their title. Both contests for the league crown and to escape relegation will bring a conclusion to a highly entertaining season in the Premier League.