Incredibly the number of Blues fans to witness the team’s Cup run will reach around 25,000 when the final whistle blows at Fratton Park. That relates to about 10,000 different people having attended and should Blues win through to Wembley there will be 50,000 who claim to have seen every game.  Would Blues then deserve the sympathy of the footballing world if they were in the same position as Portsmouth?  The crowd at Derby was full of day trippers and a gang of well watered guys by me were discussing the possible replay and saying they probably wouldn’t bother.

This is not in any way a criticism of Blues fans but an observation that all football fans are alike. For every mug like me who watches every game and would be mortified if Blues got in Portsmouth’s position there are a dozen who wouldn’t be that bothered. Portsmouth, like any other club has their die hards as well as the fly by nights.

The fact is that Portsmouth have allegedly been spending money they don’t have for some time and Birmingham City were the first to suffer from that. While Blues signed Chris Sutton on a free and DJ Campbell for £500,000 Portsmouth spent £30m. They stayed up and we went down. Having got away with it, they continued. They won the FA Cup, played in Europe and their manager Harry Redknapp got out while he was on top. Now we know why.

Portsmouth’s position was ‘unsustainable’ and they were bound to come a cropper. That was what David Sullivan said at a shareholder’s meeting 4 years ago after he was asked why Pompey could spend on players while we couldn’t.  (It was me that asked).

Before irate Pompey fans point out that Blues lost £20m getting back to the Premiership I would point out that the loss was made because we paid our bills and tax that appeared paid on the employees wage slip was actually passed on.

The only sympathy I have for Pompey’s fans and fans in general is they have no control over their clubs in good times and bad. Does anyone sympathise with Manchester United fans with their current campaign to get the Glazers out? When Man U plays in an empty Old Trafford then they might be taken seriously.

As far as being drawn at Portsmouth in the quarter final of the FA Cup, the game should have been a bye or played against a team of amateur youth players .Blues find themselves up against a team who have nothing to lose and at the focal point of the football world. The Blues fans have the longest trip they could have had and the TV want it played at 12.30. Thanks a lot!

Having dismissed Forest who were on an 18 match unbeaten run, Everton whose manager won Manager of the Month in February in spite of the Cup loss and Derby who were rubbish, Blues face the absolute toughest test they could have.

Pompey’s ride to the quarter final has been a doddle by comparison to ours and all things being normal would be expecting to meet their match. Their home form particularly is shocking yet the bookies have them as favourites.

If Blues navigate this more than tricky tie then I hope the media give us the credit we deserve. It will be a victory for resilience and determination. Above all it will be a victory for honesty and professional integrity. Sadly the result will not help the ailing society we live in as much the apparent £12m unpaid tax would.

By Alan Watton