With five points separating them from sixth-placed Bolton, who have a game in hand, the chances of John Mousinho’s side overcoming such a deficit over their remaining five matches are extremely slim.
That means another summer assembling a squad that is deemed fit to get the Blues back to the Championship for the first time since the 2011-12 campaign.
Sporting director Rich Hughes indicated last month that Pompey could target 9-10 signings in the close season in a bid to place them in a better position to do that.
And if they did, that would take the Blues to almost 100 new arrivals in the six seasons they spent in League One since winning promotion back in 2017.
That’s a staggering amount of players they will have turned to, with Pompey having just two play-off semi-final head-to-heads to show for their efforts in that time.
But how many of those 88 signings who have called Fratton Park home or continue to do so over the past six years can you remember?
If you’re struggling, here’s a reminder of those brought in since Michael Eisner took control of the club.
![From left: John Marquis, Joe Morrell, Craig MacGillivray and Brett Pitman](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmEwNjI0NGZlLTNjYjYtNDNlZi1hNzRmLTg1NjkyNGM4MWI1ZDo5MzMzNmU0Zi0wNDg0LTRkOTQtYmNmOS1jZjg5OWRhNDg5MjU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
1. Collage Maker-11-Apr-2023-06-08-PM-6521.jpg
From left: John Marquis, Joe Morrell, Craig MacGillivray and Brett Pitman Photo: National World
![Nathan Thompson, Luke McGee, Brett Pitman, Dion Donohue, Oli Hawkins, Slyvain Deslandes (loan), Stephen Henderson, Tareiq Holmes-Dennis, Matthew Kennedy (loan), Damien McCrory (loan), Stuart O'Keefe (loan), Connor Ronan (loan), Anton Walkes (loan).](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjE3OTU3M2RmLTcwMWUtNGZlZC1hYzc5LWMyMzNlOGEzYmE1OTphYzA2YWQyYy1hZmY3LTRlN2UtOGRhNS1jMWJhMTliZTVhZmE=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
2. 2017-18 season - 13 signings made
Nathan Thompson, Luke McGee, Brett Pitman, Dion Donohue, Oli Hawkins, Slyvain Deslandes (loan), Stephen Henderson, Tareiq Holmes-Dennis, Matthew Kennedy (loan), Damien McCrory (loan), Stuart O'Keefe (loan), Connor Ronan (loan), Anton Walkes (loan). Photo: National World
![Craig MacGillivray, Ronan Curtis, Bryn Morris, Andy Cannon, Tom Naylor, Lee Brown, Louis Dennis, Anton Walkes (permanent), Joe Mason (loan), Andre Green (loan), James Vaughan (loan), David Wheeler (loan), Omar Bogle (loan), Viv Solomon-Otabor (loan), Ben Thompson (loan), Lloyd Isgrove (loan).](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjc1N2E3MDFhLWJkYTItNGRjYS05OGI2LWIzMDQ0Nzk0NTQyMDplMjI0ODFkNi02MDc3LTQ0MDktOGM4MC1hMDI1NGNjNWQ3OGU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
3. 2018-19 season - 16 signings made
Craig MacGillivray, Ronan Curtis, Bryn Morris, Andy Cannon, Tom Naylor, Lee Brown, Louis Dennis, Anton Walkes (permanent), Joe Mason (loan), Andre Green (loan), James Vaughan (loan), David Wheeler (loan), Omar Bogle (loan), Viv Solomon-Otabor (loan), Ben Thompson (loan), Lloyd Isgrove (loan). Photo: National World
![Marcus Harness, John Marquis, Ryan Williams, Ellis Harrison, Paul Downing, James Bolton, Duncan Turnbull, Reeco Hackett, Ross McCrorie (loan), Cameron McGeehan (loan, Sean Raggett (loan), Steve Seddon (loan).](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjIzYWQyZjA2LTk3M2MtNGZhYS1hOTc3LTc1YjJjMTRjNDg3ZToyY2IzNmY2Ny1jZDUwLTRjZjYtYThkOC01NDYyZTJmMDJkNWI=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
4. 2019-20 season - 12 signings made
Marcus Harness, John Marquis, Ryan Williams, Ellis Harrison, Paul Downing, James Bolton, Duncan Turnbull, Reeco Hackett, Ross McCrorie (loan), Cameron McGeehan (loan, Sean Raggett (loan), Steve Seddon (loan). Photo: National World