For every step forward Pompey take, they seem to one back. So after a much-needed home win over Leyton Orient a fortnight ago, could they follow it with another against improving Exeter? No.
The Blues could have few complaints after Exeter moved into the play-off places with a 1-0 win courtesy of their second half winner.
Paul Cook named an unchanged team but it was a team who struggled to create chances from the start, even if they were controlling most of the possession.
Conor Chaplin and Carl Baker were the only Pompey players to test Grecians keeper Christy Pym but they could only be described as half-chances.
For Exeter, Reuben Reid forced David Forde into one scrambling save but a 0-0 scoreline had to be seen as a fair reflection of a poor first half.
Exeter got what proved the game's only goal on 57 minutes as David Wheeler converted after the ball ran into his path from a block after Reid had led an attack down the centre.
Jamal Lowe and Gary Roberts replaced Michael Smith and Baker and they did spark some new life into Pompey, which led to Gareth Evans forcing Pym into a good save.
Enda Stevens was tackled in the box as Pompey pressed for a late equaliser but shouts for a penalty always seemed optimistic.
Pompey now head to Wycombe next week under pressure to get back to winning ways, having fallen to fifth place, four points off third=placed Carlisle - and now a distant 16 points behind Doncaster.
Pompey: Forde; Evans, Burgess, Clarke, Stevens; Baker (Roberts 59), Rose, Doyle, Naismith; Chaplin, Smith (Lowe 59). Subs not used: O’Brien, T.Davies, Linganzi, Bennett, Hunt
Referee: Dean Whitestone
Attendance: 17,195 (1,010 away fans)
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