But warm wasn't quite the best description – Pompey found the weather in Malaga slightly on the chilly side.

The four-day trip still proved a worthwhile exercise even though there was a distinct lack of suntans when the players flew home yesterday.
Pompey boss Harry Redknapp said: "I thought it was going to be baking hot over there but it was colder than back home.

"Bolton were at the same place last week and Gary Megson got his head sunburnt. There was no chance of that happening this week.

"But it was a good trip. With not playing until Sunday, it was an ideal time to go.

"You need to get away at some stage during the season, every team does it nowadays.

"It's good to get a change of scenery and break things up.Our training pitches are heavy at the moment so it was good to train on a nice pitch for a few days."

Whether the jaunt to Spain benefits Pompey's FA Cup hopes will only be known late on Sunday afternoon.

But it was arguably a better build-up to the clash than North End were able to have, Alan Irvine only able to turn his thoughts to Pompey once
Tuesday night's visit to Colchester was out of the way.

It's fair comment that the visitors will start as firm favourites for Sunday's televised offering due to their Premier League status.

And the trip north is unlikely to hold too many fears as Pompey are good travellers... very good, in fact. They've won eight away games in the league this season, with only Chelsea able to boast as many.

Add to that victories on the road at Burnley in the Carling Cup, and Ipswich in the third round of the FA Cup, and it adds up to an impressive record.

It's been a different matter at Fratton Park, Pompey winning only three of their 12 league games there and exiting the Carling Cup on home soil.

Their latest away-day joy came just a few miles along the M61 from Preston, last Saturday – a 1-0 victory at Bolton.

They did have to ride their luck somewhat, grateful to David James for a series of fine saves before Lassana Diarra grabbed a late winner.

James admitted it hadn't been the prettiest of wins, though the three points took Pompey to the 40-point mark. He said: "The comment from one of our players was, 'Is that an ugly win?' and I think that's as good a definition as you are going to get.

"It was ugly and we didn't play particularly well, but that's going to happen."

While Pompey have become strong travellers this term, their record at Deepdale has been dreadful over the years. Their last eight visits dating back to the 1973/74 season have resulted in five defeats and three draws.

You have to wind the clock back 35 years to Portsmouth's last win here, a 5-0 victory on February 10, 1973, in the old Second Division.

Pompey will be without the cup-tied Jermain Defoe on Sunday, and with top scorer Benjani having been sold to Manchester City, it could mean a place in the squad for ex-PNE striker David Nugent.