Danny Cowley saw many good things in Pompey's tussle with League One title favourites Ipswich at Fratton Park - but admitted to being disappointed as three points turned to one when the Blues let in a late goal.
Almost inevitably it was Conor Chaplin who popped up with the late equaliser to deny Pompey a battling and much-needed win after Marlon Pack and Colby Bishop had twice put them ahead.
It leaves Pompey winless in the league since October22 and needing to beat Charlton on New Year's Day to get the play-off push rolling again.
Cowley told the club website: 'You’re always going to be disappointed and frustrated when you concede an equaliser as late as we did. But we defended well as a collective for a large majority of the game and our organisation was really good.
'The players showed a discipline and commitment to their roles, while we carried a threat on the counter-attack. Marlon has waited a long time to score for Pompey and it was a brilliant finish from a top player. He deserved that.
'Ipswich are probably the best League One team I’ve seen in my lifetime and it was a diligent performance from us. They had some control and rhythm in their play, but they weren’t really hurting us and we restricted them.
'Our effort and attitude were excellent — although they’re prerequisites. We showed a willingness to put the team first. For all those reasons we deserved to hang on and come away with all three points, but it just wasn’t to be.
'We can’t feel sorry for ourselves, though, and we have to keep working and doing the right things because the games come thick and fast.'
Cowley said the squad was still hit by a sickness bug, adding: 'We picked a team of players that were fit and healthy enough — Connor Ogilvie has done really well because he was so pale on Boxing Day.
'Denver Hume didn’t train on Wednesday and it wasn’t ideal to bring him on at half-time, but it was a case of needs must because Clark Robertson just tightened up in the hip area. There’s a lot of sickness, but I think that’s the case all over the country. It’s something you have to deal with.'