Report by Ben Davis

The loss of Steve Claridge through a neck injury before the game probably played a part in Pompey's miserable day in Birmingham where it was very cold after a night of heavy snowfall. The game just about went ahead which was fortunate considering close to 1,500 Pompey fans had made the trip.
Alan McLoughlin returned after missing the midweek defeat at Sunderland and John Durnin took Claridge's place. Pompey made a great start when they took the lead in the 4th minute. Igoe slipped Durnin into the area and his cross from the bye-line was headed in by Whittingham a couple of yards out with Poole stranded. That was the striker's 6th goal in as many games since his loan move from Sheffield Wednesday.
After that Pompey took control with Simpson excelling down the left. The disappointing thing was that the score-line wasn't added to keeping the home side in the game. Mind you Birmingham's shooting certainly wasn't any better. The visiting supporters were cheering when Steve Claridge joined them in the away end.
Pompey were looking comfortable until Birmingham levelled in the 26th minute. Whitbread's pass to one of his fellow defenders went straight to Adebola who stormed forward and thrashed in a shot at goal which deflected into the roof of the net via Knight's body. The veteran keeper was not pleased with himself as he punched the ground in frustration.
Another poor pass, this time by McLoughlin, was picked up by O'Connor whose 30-yard effort was well fisted away by Knight who made amends for the goal he conceded. The best chance Pompey had of regaining the lead came in the in final minutes of the half. A Peron corner fell straight to Durnin only three yards out. The ball though held up in the mud and Birmingham cleared. Birmingham though responded when both Ndlouv and Johnson went close before the half-time whistle.
Birmingham boss Trevor Francis made a change at half-time when he brought on Nicky Forster for Furlong. It took the substitute four minutes to make an impact as he put Birmingham in front. Hughes somehow managed to work some space down the right to put in a cross which Forster headed down past Knight.
Adebola should have made it three when Knight pushed a Bass cross straight to him two yards out. Amazingly the striker put the ball wide when it seemed easier to score. Knight kept Pompey just in the game when he turned Forster's effort away after the striker had raced through on goal.
The game though was drifting from Pompey and Birmingham deservedly got a third in the 60th minute. Forster again was involved as he cleverly spun past Awford and as he charged towards goal he squared the ball for Adebola to score his second of the match.
Nightingale and Thorgersen came on for Durnin and Igoe. Nightingale should have done a lot better when he was sent through on goal by Thorgersen, but he shot was straight at Poole. Thorgersen himself might have got on the score-sheet had it not been for a great tackle by Johnson.
Birmingham's fourth goal effectively ended any hopes of a come back, like at Swindon. Hughes ran fully 40-yards before he was allowed to poke a shot past Knight who seemed to have been fooled by the effort. The fizz had died out as Pompey knew they had to settle for a depressing defeat whilst Birmingham's push for promotion was strengthened. Fortunately results went Pompey's way and they are still 7 points clear of the relegation zone.