Pompey kept up the pressure on the other sides chasing a top three finish and automatic promotion with a classic performance of two halves at Dagenham.
They trailed 1-0 at the break and heard their fans chant 'This is embarrassing' early in the second half as they struggled to impose themselves on battling but limited opponents.
But the moment Michael Doyle smashed in Gary Roberts' cross, Pompey never looked back - and went on to score three more to claim three vital points and do their goal difference a bit of good too.
The win leaves Pompey five points behind Accrington - who are now third and have played a game more than the Blues.
Bristol Rovers and Plymouth also stand between Pompey and third place - they have three and two more points than Paul Cook's men respectively. Both have also played a game more, and Plymouth of course visit Fratton Park next Saturday.
It was an unchanged side taking on League Two's bottom team as more than 1,600 away fans - half the total crowd - watched Pompey struggle to find any rhythm in the first half.
You could almost see a Dagengham goal coming and sure enough it did when a free-kick was flicked on to Ashley Hemmings, who hooked an unlikely shot over his head and over Paul Jones and into the top corner.
As perhaps expected, Pompey did look a different animal after the break - doubtless having been told a few home truths by Cook at half-time.
They levelled just before the hour when Roberts chased a high ball down the left, checked back and pulled back a cross that Doyle, in an unusually-forward position for him, met with a sweet volley that was too strong for Daggers keeper Mark Cousins.
Christian Burgess gace Pompey the lead on 68 minutes, heading skillfully beyond Cousins from a Kyle Bennett free-kick won for a foul on Ben Davies.
Bennett was the supplier for Pompey's third too - again a free-kick, this time headed in by sub Gareth Evans.
And Bennett had had enough of setting up goals for others, converting one himself after twisting and turning 12 yards from goal and beating Cousins with a shot into the top corner.
'We want five' was the brief demand from the jubilant away fans - the fifth didn't come but for the second time in three seasons, Pompey had won 4-1 at Victoria Park to keep alive their hopes of automatic promotion.
It was the first time this season they had won three league games in a row. Now the question is can they make it four?
Pompey: Jones; Davies, Burgess, Clarke, Stevens; Hollands, Doyle (c); McGurk (Evans 80), Roberts (McNulty 89), Bennett (Naismith 89); Smith. Subs not used: Murphy, Webster, Close, Chaplin.
Referee: Lee Collins
Attendance: 3,122 (1,659 Pompey fans)
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