The Opposition View: Leicester

Foxes fan Joe Brewin gives Pompey fans his views ahead of Saturday's game at the Walkers Stadium.

After such a poor start to the season, Leicester are now mounting a serious play-off push. Do you think you can finish in the top six for a second consecutive season?

If you'd asked me five matches ago I'd have said a firm yes. But since then we've lost to Cardiff, QPR and Norwich, and given ourselves a tough task ahead. There's every chance we can get there if we pull off a run like we did not so long back, but with several other good sides in the mix looking good value I think it may ultimately be a long shot. But this is the Championship after all, anything goes.

If you fail to achieve promotion this season, would you expect a strong push at automatic promotion next season given the resources available at your club?

Absolutely. I wouldn't be distraught if we didn't go up this time around given the woeful start to the season, but I'd have every confidence in us making a good go at the top two spots next season. With Sven in charge and good backing from the club's owners, anything is possible. It's an exciting time to be a Leicester fan at the moment, and long may it continue.

Now that Milan Mandaric has gone, how do Foxes fans feel about his tenure at the club?

It's a bit of a mixed bag really. Despite what he might claim about all the money he pumped in, he got us on the cheap in the first place and sold us on for a handsome profit. He made some catastrophic managerial appointments in his first season which ultimately cost us our place in the Championship the first time around (a blessing in disguise I should add). That said, we came out the other side of his tenure in a much better position than we he joined, so overall it was a success. Even it we did go the long way round.

Yakubu was arguably the best striker at Pompey during our Premier League tenure, how has he fitted in at Leicester?

He started superbly, but hasn't scored for five matches now. He's a cracking player to have in the team though - his work rate may annoy some of our fans from time to time, but you only have to see what he can do on the ball for his value in the side. He's said he wants to stay if we get promoted, but given the unlikely occurrence of that now happening, it remains to be seen whether he'll be pulling on a blue shirt again next season. Hopefully he can end his little drought against his former boys on Saturday.

What do you make of the current Pompey team? Which players in our squad are you most fearful of?

Sadly I was at the Fratton park debacle earlier in the season, and it wasn't pretty. Liam Lawrence, Dave Kitson and Dave Nugent are all cracking players at this level, and should be a match for most sides in this division. One of my friends at university is also a Portsmouth fan, and he's still adamant that Kanu is one of the most skilful players in the league. With a good run only just ended for yourselves there's plenty to be wary of.

What are this Leicester team's biggest strengths?

Going forward, our front three of Paul Gallagher, Yakubu and Darius Vassell are always threatening. In truth I really like our whole side and there is strength all over the pitch. Kyle Naughton has been a revelation at right-back on loan from Tottenham, while Richie Wellens and Andy King have both enjoyed cracking seasons so far.

And what are the biggest weaknesses in your team?

Ricardo, the former Portugal international, has endured a mixed time between the sticks since signing on a short-term contract. At times he looks hesitant in the air, but he seems to be settling down now and put in a very good performance at Scunthorpe on Saturday. Hopefully his jitters are over for now.

At the back we've been dodgy all season, which is disappointing because we do have some very good players at the back. Ben Mee has been solid since arriving from Manchester City, while Sol Bamba and Miguel Vitor look a great pairing at the heart of defence. But despite all of this, we still look vulnerable.

When the clubs met in the reverse fixture Pompey ran out 6-1 winners and left Leicester at the bottom of the league. Is revenge on the mind come Saturday?

I think revenge would certainly be a dish best served with three points here. Our goal difference has never recovered since that hammering, and we really were embarrassed that day. We definitely owe you a trashing, but I think you are too strong for that.

Predict the outcome of the game.

We've had a solid home record all season, and I'd like to think we can keep the run going. We only suffered our first home defeat under Sven against Norwich last week, but I'm confident we can bounce back for a slim 2-1 win. We need the points if we're to make a serious charge for the play-offs.