Christophe Berra remains in positive mood about Town’s chances of securing a play-off place for the second season in a row.

They are just off the pace going into Saturday’s home clash with Nottingham Forest and appear to be in a four-way battle with Sheffield Wednesday, Cardiff and Birmingham for the coveted sixth spot.

Berra, 31, said: “It’s all to play for and there are obviously so many games still to be played that it will obviously come down to which team can get most points on the board.

“We’ve probably punched above our weight a little bit and we’ll keep on going and never give up.

“Our ultimate is definitely to finish in the top six and we showed that last Saturday at Huddersfield, even if we rode our luck a bit in the second half.

“We changed it a bit and defended well — they didn’t really get through us. There have been games earlier in the season where we’ve played better than that but ended up getting beaten.”

March is a huge month, with Nottingham Forest, tomorrow, Blackburn and Rotherham on the agenda at Portman Road — three games that all appear winnable, even given Town’s lack of consistency at home this season that has seen them collect just half the points — 24 from a possible 48 — up for grabs.

Berra warned: “They might look winnable on paper but Nottingham Forest, for example, are no mugs.

“They’ve just lost three in a row but before that they were 13 unbeaten and if you look at their squad it’s full of familiar names and looks strong.

“If people were looking at the two squads they probably wouldn’t think there was that much between us.

“It’s about whoever turns up and performs on the day. We won’t be setting any targets, just taking each game as it comes and trying to win it.

“We don’t look too far ahead and I think as a footballer you can’t get too carried away — or too down — with results.

“You just have to deal with it as it happens and move on. It would be great if we could win every game and be sitting at the top of the league but this league is so competitive that we just need to worry about ourselves and concentrate on trying to pick up as many points as possible.

“Yes, we’ve had our dips in form, but if you look at most teams it has been the same. Middlesbrough are going through it now, Derby as well, and they’re both teams that have spent tens of millions of pounds and whose wage bills are probably 10 times the size of ours.

“It happens to everyone but we’re on 51 points at the moment and in a strong position to challenge.

“There are still an awful lot of points to play for and you never know, if we can go on a run like we’ve done before and get some of the injured lads back it could give us some momentum through to the end of the season.”

Photo: Action Images

Sir_Bob added 07:11 - Mar 4 “We changed it a bit and defended well — they didn't really get through us" No, they got through you and the other 3 very easily, it's just lucky our goalkeeper was on form that day..... Again. The defending last Saturday, at times, was laughable. Up until January last season, I would say Berra was the best defender in the league. Since then, his performances have been absolutely average. I personally believe he is just getting dragged down by the other three, to which now Smith may even have overtaken him, which by the way is a very scary thought. Our constant ability to leak goals will be our downfall this season. Just as it was last season.

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hello66 added 07:43 - Mar 4 Rusty Mick out! ..........I and a lot of my family will buy new season ticket once Mick is gone not before, for £25-35 a game I can't watch that style of football all season long, we need to go home at the end of the match feeling we have been all been entertained not bored to death with a scrappy win or draw each game ……have blue blood and always will ………..it's a bit like you will always love your children …..but some days (seasons) you don't like them !

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Cloddyseedbed added 07:50 - Mar 4 hello66, totally agree with your post. Just seen the newspaper and season tickets are going up. Been watching ITFC every season since the 60's but with the style of play this is the final kick in the n*ts for me. I hate this type of football and this is my final season of having a season ticket and watching and suffering it. I also will not renew until McCarthy or the style changes. None of my family want to go anymore either. Sad times. I don't care what bl**dy league we're in I just want to see good football aka Portsmouth.

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HarryS_H added 08:38 - Mar 4 If you don't like spending the money don't go! I'd personally rather have positive fans turning up to games rather than you moaners. Also with a season ticket it doesn't work out at £25-£30 a game, that's the point of a season ticket it's cheaper. You can't expect to watch Barcelona style football! That's just unrealistic. To be honest we've improved our style of play a lot this season with wingers and fast stickers and I have enjoyed it.

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Kirbmeister added 08:55 - Mar 4 Hello66 - you won't be at Portman Road then for at least a couple of years cos Mick's going nowhere. Colchester's up the road and they're gonna need all the support they can get.
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Cloddyseedbed added 09:03 - Mar 4 HarryS H, it's not all about the money in life, sometimes it comes down to entertainment, enjoyment, etc and for me and many supporters, putting the prices up is one of principle. I'm glad you are enjoying what your seeing and I take your point about fast wingers (Fraser) and fast strikers (Sears) but the style of play has sadly not improved and since Fraser has been injured the team has certainly suffered. I think we all agree that without McGoldrick, Bishop and now Fraser it has not helped this season. It is the way McCarthy sets his teams up and the dire football spectacle on show, the poor defence, the non existent midfield, that are the mainstay of McCarthy football that has turned me off football. I can only comment on my feelings and it's hard to watch my team the way they are and go away with a smile on my face. Portsmouth don't play like Barcelona, have no money but the football they play is a pleasure to watch. Good for them I say. If it's so good at ITFC why are the crowds going down, after all we are just outside the playoffs?

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Fatboy added 09:24 - Mar 4 On the current table, I'd include Derby and say it's a five-way battle for fifth and sixth spots.
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derby123 added 13:56 - Mar 4 So what some of you are saying is it doesn't matter if we lose just as long as we string a few nice passing moves together. People harp on about Pompey. I'd say they raised there game over two games and deserved to win. If you look at there league form since then it's been very average. Not many sides would have coped with the injuries were had this season and still be in contention. The injuries all occurring to are best footballers if all were fit the style of play would have been greatly improved..

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