Still struggling to stumble over the line and complete their promotion mission, Wigan’s winless streak extended to a fourth game at the weekend, following a 1-1 draw with playoff contenders Plymouth.
Nonetheless, that solitary point keeps the Latics top of the League One table; three ahead of both Rotherham and MK Dons.
Though Jack Whatmough’s second-half equaliser was enough to deprive the Pilgrims of victory, Leam Richardson’s side are on a run of just two points from the last possible 12 and are yet to rubber stamp their elevation back to the Championship.
With one game left to play, the third-placed Dons can only draw level if they win on the final day, but with an advantage of seven on goal difference, Wigan are all but assured of achieving their aim – even if they fail to beat Portsmouth.
The Lancashire outfit will surely want to end a successful campaign with a flourish, though, and as a win and draw from their remaining matches would guarantee the title, they will not lack motivation on Tuesday.
Beaten 1-0 by Wigan in the reverse fixture, back at the start of a long and ultimately fruitless campaign, Portsmouth have failed to mount a promotion challenge of their own and even improved form since the turn of the year has failed to lift them into contention.
Danny Cowley’s men were 3-1 winners over a lowly Gillingham on Saturday, as they posted a third win from four games to sit ninth in the table.
Republic of Ireland forward Ronan Curtis netted his 50th Pompey goal, with his two strikes coming at either end of the first half at Fratton Park, before Clark Robertson scored a third shortly after the interval.
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Despite a dominant display, the South Coast side’s campaign has effectively been over for several weeks, yet a recent run of 10 points from 12 available – including three wins on home soil – demonstrates the squad are still keen to impress Cowley before a probable summer clearout.
Just two points short of matching last season’s final tally, which saw them finish eighth, Pompey must win both of their remaining fixtures to have any chance of leapfrogging Oxford United and matching that position when the campaign concludes next weekend
