Portsmouth will play hosts to Barnsley at Fratton Park this weekend in what has quickly become a must-win game for the home side after a dreadful run of form has seen the club move down into 11th and way off the playoff spots.
It's been a tough season for Pompey so far with them having to deal with many postponed games and also the fact that they also remain outside of the top 10 after a 2-1 loss to Peterborough United. In fact, even in that defeat, the club failed to score and had to deal with an own goal being the only source of goals.
Portsmouth remain in 11th after the loss with just nine wins on the board, 10 defeats and seven losses too. On the other hand, with so many games in hand on those above them, the chances of getting into the playoffs are quite high. Pompey have three games in hand over Bolton Wanderers in fifth and a gap of 13 points to make up.
A win in all three of those games could mean the club cut that gap to just four points. At the same time, there is still a lot to work on for Jose Mousinho at Fratton Park, as his side have let in 32 goals so far and netted just 34 of their own - only Bristol Rovers in 12th have a worse record in the top 12.
As for Barnsley, they were in midweek action to play out one of their games in hand as the club travelled to the Kassam Stadium to meet with Oxford United. The club now remain inside the top six after that clash with them breathing down the neck of Bolton in fifth with two more games in hand to play over them.
The Tykes are certainly still in a fight for promotion back into the Championship, but it does seem that a lot of this is dependent on whether or not they can win their games in hand.
