Coventry have – like Pompey – needed to suffer a fall right to the bottom in order to start their recovery.
It took slightly longer for the Sky Blues to reach the basement, having not played top-flight football since the 2000/01 campaign.
And following years of on and off-field struggles, their supporters will be hoping that last season’s success can herald a reversal of fortunes.
LAST SEASON
It was Coventry who brought the 2017/18 domestic campaign to a close by beating Exeter 3-1 in the League Two play-off final at the end of May.
Jordan Willis, Jordan Shipley and Jack Grimmer were the Wembley heroes, ensuring that the Sky Blues’ stay in League Two was limited to a single year.
They only secured their play-off spot on the final day of the regular season, then saw off Notts County over two legs.
THE MANAGER
Mark Robins was appointed manager towards the end of Coventry’s ill-fated 2016/17 campaign and ensured they bounced back into the third tier at the first attempt.
He had previously been in charge of the club during the 2012/13 season and has also led Rotherham, Barnsley, Huddersfield and Scunthorpe.
Robins began his playing career at Manchester United, where he won the FA Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup.
POMPEY CONNECTIONS
There are plenty of former Blues players at the Ricoh Arena, with Michael Doyle having skippered both clubs to League Two promotion in successive seasons.
Tom Davies was also in the Pompey squad that secured the fourth tier title, while goalkeeper Liam O’Brien was a regular on the bench.
Marc McNulty netted 12 times during a loan spell at Fratton Park the previous campaign, while Dominic Hyam failed to make an appearance after making a temporary switch from Reading.
HEAD TO HEAD
Pompey: 11 wins
Coventry: 15 wins
6 draws
Last Fratton meeting
Pompey 2 (Wallace, Agyemang)
Coventry 0
League One
March 23 2013
Last away meeting
Coventry 3 (Haynes, Gadzhev, Rose)
Pompey 2 (Main, Naismith)
EFL Cup R1 (after extra-time)
August 9 2016
CITY STATS
Formed: 1883
Best league finish: 6th in Division One (1969/70)
Nickname: Sky Blues
Distance from Fratton Park: 145.8 miles
Estimated drive time: 2 hours 38 minutes
2018/19 title odds: 20/1
10-YEAR HISTORY
2017/18 League Two: 6th
2016/17 League One: 23rd
2015/16 League One: 8th
2014/15 League One: 17th
2013/14 League One: 18th
2012/13 League One: 15th
2011/12 Championship: 23rd
2010/11 Championship: 18th
2009/10 Championship: 19th
2008/09 Championship: 17th