The Blues have lost their past four matches and have gone five games without a win.

But don't be too down ahead of the Blues' biggest game for 69 years. It's not all doom and gloom.

Granted, it's hardly the ideal warm-up preparation for such a monumental day when they face Cardiff this Saturday.

Not since Leicester in 1963 has a team been so out-of-sorts heading into an FA Cup final.

On that occasion, the Foxes's record was one draw followed by four-successive defeats – the mirror image of Pompey's.

They then went on to lose to Sir Matt Busby's Manchester United 3-1 in the Wembley final.

Not that losing the final match before the eagerly-anticipated showpiece is any indication – and for Blues fans that's precisely where hope lies.

Pockets of disgruntled supporters may have been booing on Sunday, but fear not, life isn't all that bad.

In the 45 years which have passed, fewer than half the teams which won their preceding game have actually gone on to lift the FA Cup.

There, there, it feels a bit better already doesn't it?

You see, form has little or no impact on a team's ability to capture the greatest domestic cup competition in the world. Harry Redknapp said it on many occasions during the past month – and the statistics strengthen his claims.

Admittedly, 20 times in the last 45 years, the side heading to the final buoyed by a morale-boosting victory under their belt has gone on to win it.

On the other side of the coin, on 16 occasions the losers have swiftly bounced back to claim the glory.

Scientifically speaking, there is no proof an FA Cup final can be settled by antics occurring in the match before.

Of course, one drawback is that just once during the last 10 years has a side which lost their previous match gone on to take the Cup.

That was Arsenal in 2005 when they defeated Man-chester United on penalties – the first-ever shoot out in an FA Cup final.

Then again, Arsene Wenger's side had won their previous four matches before slumping to a 2-1 loss at Birmingham in the final Premier League game of the campaign.

The best form over the last 45 years was produced by Liverpool ahead of the 1986 final against Everton.

Kenny Dalglish's men won all five of their league matches in the build-up and then defeated their fierce rivals 3-1 at Wembley to clinch the double.

If Pompey need to draw inspiration from anybody, then the Spurs side of 1982 represent the perfect role model.

Keith Burkinshaw's men suffered three defeats on the trot on their way to face QPR that season – Nottingham Forest, Liverpool and Ipswich the victors on those occasions.

It didn't stop Spurs taking the Cup, though. Glen Hoddle netting the winner from the penalty spot in the replay.

Finally, last season, Chelsea drew all five of their Premier League fixtures on the way to meeting Manchester United at Wembley.

Jose Mourinho's men made light of that barren winning run through Didier Drogba in extra-time.

So in the midst of this dreadful pre-Wembley slump, let's have some calm – because Pompey are still going to win the FA Cup.