Birmingham City

Image source, Shutterstock

Portsmouth and Birmingham City have been fined for a confrontation which happened during their 1-1 draw on the final day of the season.

The FA determined that both clubs failed to ensure their players didn't behave in an improper manner following an incident in the 80th minute of the match at Fratton Park.

Portsmouth have been fined £53,125 and Birmingham have been fined £85,000.

Both clubs have admitted the charge against them.

Image source, Getty Images

Birmingham manager Chris Davies told BBC Radio WM: "I knew it would be a party atmosphere for them, they've survived in the league. They've had some good wins at home. We had to come spoil that party a bit.

"We didn't start well. The goal was really sloppy. We grew back in and after our goal we were a different beast.

"In the end we had clear chances to go and win it. Our pressing was a huge part of the game; Pompey wanted to get on the ball and be comfortable and we never let them do that."

Image source, Opta

With safety already assured, Portsmouth welcome Birmingham City to Fratton Park for the Championship season finale on Saturday (12:30 BST).

Pompey have taken seven points from their past three home games, keeping two clean sheets, and bounced back from a heavy defeat at Coventry to win 3-1 at Stoke on Saturday which made it four wins in five games.

Blues could finish as high as ninth in the table in their first season following promotion from League One and have taken 10 points from their past four games, however they have earned just a point from their past five away games, scoring only twice.

• Portsmouth last hosted Birmingham in the league in March 2012, winning 4-1; Pompey last won back-to-back home league games versus the Blues in September 1992 (3 in a row).

• Birmingham have won four of their past five league games against Portsmouth (L1), more than their previous 14 beforehand (W3 D8 L3).

• Portsmouth haven't won their final match of a league season in any of their past nine seasons in the top two tiers of English football (D3 L6) since a 5-1 win over Middlesbrough in the Premier League in 2003-04 under Harry Redknapp.

• Birmingham have won their final league game in both of the past two seasons, last doing so three times running from 1992-93 to 1994-95.

• Portsmouth have won four of their past five league games (L1) – as many as they'd won in their previous 17 games combined (W4 D5 L8).

Image source, Getty Images

Birmingham City manager Chris Davies said he is "absolutely interested" in Jhon Solis after his side's 2-1 win over Bristol City on Saturday.

In their last home game of the season, Solis pounced on a Bristol failure to play out from the back to record his first goal for the Blues and extend their lead to 2-0 with Bristol's Tomi Horvat halving deficit through a penalty late on.

The Colombian midfielder signed for Birmingham on a loan deal from Girona in the January transfer window and is set to return to the La Liga once the Championship concludes next weekend.

"I would absolutely be interested," Davies told BBC Radio WM after the game. "I don't know the exact details of it either, but I know there is a deal there, but we'll have to see what we can do."

In their final game at St. Andrew's for the season, Davies, 41, also reflected on the entire campaign with today's victory meaning Birmingham are now guaranteed a top half place in the table as one of the promoted sides.

"I think our first season back up, we're guaranteed a top half finish now. Can we keep pushing but to guarantee that? I think more importantly, we've got a template now and a team that's growing together that you can go and see being really effective next season.

"I'm feeling really good about the future and what we can do."

Birmingham City will hope to end their season on a high note as they aim to extend their unbeaten run to a fourth game against Bristol City at St Andrew's on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Blues has lost their previous three games before starting an undefeated streak with a victory over Wrexham on 12 April (W2 D1).

However, Bristol City are experiencing the opposite. Having won both their opening games under new boss Roy Hodgson, they have not claimed all three points in any of their previous three (D2 L1).

• Birmingham City haven't conceded a single goal in any of their last three home league games against Bristol City (W2 D1).

• After their 1-0 win in October, Bristol City could record their first league double over Birmingham since the 1992-93 campaign.

• Birmingham won their final home league game in both 2023-24 (1-0 v Norwich) and 2024-25 (4-0 v Mansfield); the Blues last did so three seasons running from 1971-72 to 1973-74.

• Bristol City have lost their final away league game in five of the last six seasons, winning the other 2-0 at QPR in 2022-23.

• Bristol City have avoided defeat in all three of their Championship away games under Roy Hodgson this season (W1 D2); they only avoided defeat in four of his 10 away league games in charge during 1981-82 (W2 D2 L6).

Birmingham City boss Chris Davies told BBC WM he was thoroughly happy with his side's performance in Wednesday's 2-1 Championship win over Preston North End.

"I really liked our start, we played the right type of game, and at that point I thought we could get a third goal and this could be a really great night," Davies said.

"But typical Championship, they score with a corner – soft from our point of view – but in some ways it was good because it livened us up.

"I said to the players that we've had a couple of nice wins here by four goals, playing some fantastic football. This was a different type of game: a battling, fighting game.

"But if you love football, like I do, this is even better. We showed a fight and spirit because to get six points from a side like Preston is a fantastic return because they are a seasoned Championship side. I'm so pleased with the character of our players."

On goalscorer Ibrahim Osman, he added: "Ibrahim was outstanding. He obviously gets the assist for us, and then his goal was the second phase of a corner. He has this one v one skill that once he gets away from you he has got the acceleration, and it is hard to stop him.

"[But] he got a knock and we will possibly miss him this weekend."