So, when can tantalising promotion place can be sealed for Pompey...?
Pompey moved another step closer to the Championship after the rambunctious topof-the-table showdown with Derby County on Tuesday.
But what is now required to finally guarantee a place in the second tier at the seventh time of asking? And if John Mousinho’s men deliver, when will the promotion dream become reality?
Well, after the 2-2 draw in PO4 we now know the earliest opportunity of going up has been pushed slightly further down the road.
That was conceivably next Wednesday when Peterborough host Port Vale in a rearranged fixture, with the Posh contesting the EFL Trophy final with Wycombe on Sunday.
Now there’s a couple of permutations to consider, but the simplest is the
Blues will be celebrating promotion at Bolton if they win their next two games.
Shrewsbury arrive at Fratton Park tomorrow, before Mousinho’s side go to the Toughsheet Stadium to take on Ian Evatt’s men on April 13.
Wins on both occasions would see Pompey land on 93 points, while taking three points off Wanderers and limiting their achievable total - which currently also stands at 93 ahead of tomorrow’s visit to Bristol Rovers.
If the Blues fail to win their next two games, they know any return will count towards the seven-point haul which would then guarantee promotion. That would take them to 94 points, beyond Bolton’s maximum finish as well as Peterborough (92) and Barnsley (92).
That would need some flying form from those sides to hit those totals, however, with Pompey’s target coming down depending on how many points Bolton drop.
That could then further shift, as a result of how the other sides in contention perform.
For the title it’s eight points required, with
Derby having four matches remaining. That gives them an achievable 94 points with a quartet of winnable games to come for the Rams.