Kenny Jackett criticised Pompey's defending after their defeat at Southend - and said they had to start keeping some clean sheets.
Their recent run without a shutout is in contrast to their form of late November and December, when they had five games in a run of six in which they did not concede.
Jackett wants to see an improvement in the rearguard when the Blues go to managerless Fleetwood on Tuesday night.
He told the club website: 'It’s too many games for us now without a clean sheet and we’ve conceded three times on this occasion. We started well and Conor had the first chance, but they then got into our half twice and we gifted Southend two goals.
'It was very brittle for us defensively — and that’s been the case throughout January and February. It has to improve. We have to gives ourselves a basis to build on. If your goals against column is zeroes and ones then you give yourselves a chance.
'But we’re giving them away at the moment, which is frustrating and it’s undermining our confidence. It leaves a mountain for us to climb and this game was only a reflection of what we’ve seen over the past couple of months.
'There aren’t fantastic pieces of skill needed to score against us. They’re easy and avoidable goals, and it’s costing us.'
Nathan Thompson faces a suspension for his Roots Hall red card, while Gareth Evans and Brett Pitman both came off injured - potentially leaving Jackett short on numbers for the long trip to Lancashire.
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