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Portsmouth and Leicester on the brink

Jon Culley
Saturday 12 April 2003 00:00 BST
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Thanks to Sheffield United's engagement at Old Trafford tomorrow, Nottingham Forest's meeting with Wolverhampton Wanderers last night and a blank Saturday for Reading, none of the sides currently occupying play-off places in the First Division are in action today. By five o'clock, the future for all four may be clearer, nonetheless.

Should Portsmouth beat Sheffield Wednesday at Fratton Park and Leicester return from Rotherham with three points, for example, the race for automatic promotion will be over, with Premiership football for those two clubs confirmed.

Meanwhile, the threat to the play-off group from the chasing pack may be significantly reduced. Realistically, only Ipswich and Norwich have any prospect of ousting one of the top six. For others, the chance is theoretical but a Leicester win or draw at Millmoor would remove Rotherham from the calculations and Crystal Palace would be out of the hunt should they not win at Grimsby. Defeat would effectively eliminate Gillingham, Preston and Burnley and leave mathematical chances hanging by a thread for Wimbledon and Millwall.

The Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp is convinced his side will win the title even though Leicester have drawn level after five consecutive wins.

"We've got a game in hand, a better goal difference and a better run-in," Redknapp said. "We've got four games at home and two away. They've got two at home and three away. We're odds-on." The championship would give Pompey their first silverware since the Third Division title 20 years ago and reward owner Milan Mandaric for an investment estimated at £25m. On the other hand, Leicester can find a thread of history pointing towards a Foxes triumph.

Victory at Rotherham would increase their tally of wins for the season to 26, surpassing the club record of 25 set by the team that won the Second Division title in 1957, when Arthur Rowley scored 44 goals.

The debate as to which will be better equipped to survive in the Premiership has already begun and both sets of players are convinced the managers are their most vital assets. Paul Merson described Redknapp's achievement as "the ultimate I've witnessed as a player", which from a man who played in George Graham's Arsenal side is an extraordinary accolade. "He should be given the keys of the city," Merson added.

Leicester are worried that Adams, linked with Leeds, Fulham and Aston Villa, will not be around to continue his work unless the takeover at the Walkers Stadium releases substantial funds. Goalkeeper Ian Walker said: "He has done a great job in difficult circumstances and it's important for everyone that he signs a new contract."

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