Leicester on the brink after defeat at Portsmouth
Leicester City is on the brink after Portsmouth moved seven points clear of the bottom three to make it three straight victories with a 1-0 win over the Foxes at Fratton Park.
Ibane Bowat was the matchwinner against the 23rd-placed hosts, which remain five points from safety having played a game more than West Bromwich Albion in 21st.
Leicester is now on the brink of a second relegation in as many seasons, and depending on results elsewhere, its drop could be confirmed as early as Wednesday (AEST).
"I'm disappointed with the way we conceded the goal to lose the game," Leicester boss Gary Rowett said.
"If you played my last four interviews it would sound very similar to this one, which is deeply frustrating.
"We've made it pretty clear to the players the importance of where we are in the season and what it means to a lot of people at this football club.
"We got into some really good positions but without finding that final third quality, we have to show that and we can't keep not showing it in those moments."
Pompey boss John Mousinho rated the match as probably the toughest 90 minutes of his side's past three victories.
"It was hugely important and overall we deserved the win, we just had to get the job done because it wasn't a pretty game," he said.
"Thankfully, we had a couple of good chances before the goal and probably could have done better but managed to find the net."
Life doesn't get any easier for Leicester, with Hull City visiting King Power Stadium on Wednesday (AEST), and the Tigers are in sixth place and looking to cement their place in the promotion play-offs.
Portsmouth, meanwhile, travels to league leader Coventry City, which secured its promotion to the Premier League on Saturday (AEST) with its 1-1 draw at Blackburn Rovers, so the party will be in full swing.
