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Southampton and Portsmouth fans will wake with beaming smiles tomorrow morning after their wins over Blackburn and Ipswich, respectively, each doing the other a big favour.

Who knows, maybe even a handshake or two between the fanbases... or at least a knowing nod of approval, if that feels too personal...

It is 18 unbeaten now for the Saints who are right in the hunt for a top-two finish, while Pompey secure back-to-back wins and give themselves a bit of breathing space at the bottom end of the Championship.

We will be right back with you on Friday when Coventry could well secure their return the top flight after 25 years if they get a point at Blackburn.

Until then, thank you for joining us and enjoy the rest of your night.

Southampton

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Southampton are up into fourth and within striking distance of Ipswich in the second automatic promotion spot.

Speaking to Sky Sports following their win over Blackburn, head coach Tonda Eckert said.

"It was very good, our energy was outstanding today especially for the part of the season that we are in. We knew that we needed from fresh legs up there and the boys have done outstandingly [well].

"It's credit to the players, at this stage of the season it's a big plus for us that we have many players who are able to perform and you've seen that today where we've made a couple of changes and they were all spot on."

On the confidence and positivity amongst his players:

"Yeah, we need to take that positivity from game to game, but I keep repeating myself, it all combines with humility because that's the most important thing for us."

On the possibility of catching second-place:

"I think that's for the supporters and the media. I know it sounds boring but for me we need to keep our head down, we need to keep working, we need to stay humble.

"We need a big output on Saturday and that's what we're focused on."

Guy Whittingham
Former Portsmouth manager on BBC Radio Solent

Portsmouth have not been as effective from set-pieces as they were last season but tonight was a great example of what they can do.

Shaughnessy is such a threat from those balls into the box and Ipswich just did not defend it properly.

Jo Tessem
Ex-Southampton midfielder on BBC Radio Solent

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Cameron Bragg is such good young player who makes very professional decisions on the pitch.

Whether he gets four minutes or a whole game he makes the most of it.

He played a big part in one of the goals tonight and as he develops he is just going to get better.

In terms of recent history, Peterborough United went down with 54 points in 2012-13 which will take some beating while Leicester tumbled into League One with 52 in 2007-08.

Here is how the weekend fixtures look in the Championship as Coventry can confirm promotion on Friday night at Ewood Park and there are massive games at Fratton Park and Portman Road.

• Blackburn Rovers v Coventry City (Friday)
• Derby County v Oxford United
• Millwall v QPR
• Portsmouth v Leicester City
• Bristol City v Norwich City
• Hull City v Birmingham City
• Preston North End v West Bromwich Albion
• Sheffield Wednesday v Charlton Athletic
• Swansea City v Southampton
• Watford v Sheffield United
• Wrexham v Stoke City
• Ipswich Town v Middlesbrough (Sunday)

It is all going to look very embarrassing if Saints do claim that second automatic promotion spot with Tonda Eckert completely overlooked on the shortlist for manager of the season...

Ipswich Town

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From the highs of completing a league double over East Anglian rivals Norwich at the weekend, Ipswich put on a flat performance to lose at Portsmouth tonight.

Head coach Kieran McKenna has been speaking to the media at Fratton Park:

"We spoke after the Norwich game that that wasn't the pinnacle especially when we're playing teams with massive motivations of their own.

"Every game is going to be harder and it's gong to take a monumental effort to get the three points - we didn't quite hit the levels tonight but we have games ahead to look forward to, to do it.

"Any game you lose you're disappointed and at this stage of the season you're disappointed so it's too easy to link it to Saturday because whatever happened on Saturday this was going to be a tough game."

As mentioned by John Mousinho, Pompey have taken seven points from games against Norwich, Middlesbrough and Ipswich. Hugely impressive stuff.

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Since taking over at St Mary's, Tonda Eckert has 22 wins from 33 games, in all competitions, with only five defeats.

Mick Mills
Former Ipswich and England captain on BBC Radio Suffolk

You can't afford to concede two so quickly before half-time.

Conceding one would have been bad enough but you have to make sure you don't let in the second.

You could see the desire of the Portsmouth team in the second half, they really wanted that scoreline.

Portsmouth

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Portsmouth are now four points clear of the Championship relegation zone.

Pompey boss John Mousinho has been speaking to Sky Sports:

"It was an awesome performance.

"With everything considered going up to Middlesbrough on Saturday and winning and then tonight coming back here against one of the best squads the Championship has seen assembled for a while, to come away with the three points and play as well as we did I'm absolutely delighted.

"We lost 6-1 at QPR a few weeks ago and there were a few words said over the international break and to come out of the back of that and play Norwich away (1-1), Middlesbrough away and Ipswich at home, it speaks volumes for the mentality of the boys."

Guy Whittingham
Former Portsmouth manager on BBC Radio Solent

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Ipswich are one of the best sides in the league and they have some squad as well, but it was an incredible performance by Portsmouth.

You could pick any player out and commend their work rate.

Jo Tessem
Ex-Southampton midfielder on BBC Radio Solent

Blackburn decided to be very defensive and as soon as the first goal went in, it ruined that mentality for them.

It was not the most entertaining game but I liked the performance and the set-up.

Portsmouth

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Colby Bishop scored his first league goal at Fratton Park for nearly a year as he notched the second in Portsmouth's 2-0 win over Ipswich.

He has been speaking to Sky Sports: "I've scored quite a few times against Ipswich [seven in the league] so it's nice to get another one.

"Against the better teams we seem to do better and we always fancy ourselves at Fratton Park.

"Nothing is over, you know what this league is like, you don't know what's going to happen so we just have to keep going."

Image source, BBC Sport/Shutterstock

What an evening for Southampton who move closer to an automatic promotion spot after that 3-0 win over Blackburn.

With Ipswich slipping up at Portsmouth, the Saints are only three points adrift of the Tractor Boys while that goal difference is also creeping up.

Pompey move up to 19th with that win leaving them four points clear the drop zone while Blackburn drop down a place to 20th.

Not a great night for Leicester who are now five points adrift of safety and travel to Fratton Park on Saturday.

Portsmouth

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Millenic Alli was one of four changes Portsnmouth boss John Mousinho made tonight and he played a major part in their win.

Alli told Sky Sports: "It's a massive win, we really needed the three points and we got the result.

"We started great, had a great first-half but had to keep going and we did.

"The last few games have been great, we've got the points but we just have to keep going."