Paul Cook had no qualms - before or after the game - about fielding numerous academy players for Pompey's JP Trophy visit to Exeter.
Adam Barton was given his Pompey debut although in defence and not midfield, where he can normally be found.
Academy pair Calvin Davies and Brandon Joseph-Buadi also made their senior debuts, while Adam May and Ben Tollitt both started, having been on as subs in previous games.
Alex Bass, Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain, Dory Yates and Kaleem Haitham were all on the bench.
The young side did well but eventually lost 2-0 as Exeter made their experience tell in the second half.
Pompey were at their best in the first half and Adam McGurk and Conor Chaplin might each have put the Blues into the lead.
Exeter punished Pompey nine minutes after the break when Ryan Harley converted a penalty after Tom McCready had been fouled.
Alex Nicholls made it 2-0 with 17 minutes left and there was little chance of a comeback after that as the youngsters began to tire. Kai Naismith looked lively as a second-half sub and overall there will have been plenty of positives to come out of this.
League Two is clearly Pompey's priority and they get back to it on Saturday, when Accrington visit Fratton.
Pompey: Jones; C.Davies, Webster, Barton, Haunstrup (Haitham 82); May, Close (c); Tollitt, Chaplin, Joseph-Buadi (Naismith 66); McGurk (Oxlade-Chamberlain 77) Subs not used: Bass, Yates
Referee: Lee Swabey
Attendance: 2,323 (515 Pompey fans)
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