Feelings were very mixed for the Pompey camp after the 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light. There was disappointment the Blues couldn't turn a point into three to keep automatic promotion in their own hands - but delight at the way every player battled to make sure, crucially, they weren't beaten.

The point means Pompey must beat Peterborough at Fratton on Tuesday evening to take the battle for a top two finish to the last day - and then hope they also win against Accrington while either Luton or Barnsley slip up.

Jamal Lowe cancelled out Tom Flanagan's early header and the Black Cats had the better chances after that, but found Craig MacGillivray in superb form.

Pompey boss Kenny Jackett told the Blues website afrerwards: 'It was a very good point and everyone out on the pitch put a lot into that match. We dug in and defended well. It would have been lovely if we had more going forward, but we showed character and resilience.

'The two saves in the first half were exceptional and it’s hard to come and play here in front of a large crowd. We were unable to get many shots away after the pitch or get up the pitch and into those dangerous areas.

'You can break and score as the away side. We weren’t able to get going that way, but maybe it’s asking too much. We put Gareth Evans and Oli Hawkins on and tried to give us fresh legs, but it didn’t necessarily alter the flow.'

Jackett expects both Peterborough and Accrington to give his side stern tests in a monumental week at Fratton.

He added: 'Neither of them are going to be easy, so we have to be ready and do the best we can to win them, then see where it takes us. Barnsley have won and a draw for us was a good result for them, but we just have to focus on our games and see what we can do.'

Pompey: MacGillivray; Thompson, Burgess, Clarke, Brown; Naylor, Close; Lowe, Pitman, Curtis (Evans 66); Vaughan (Hawkins 57)/ Subs not used: Bass, Walkes, Haunstrup, Morris, Solomon-Otabor

Referee: Craig Pawson

Attendance: 41,129 (3,222 Pompey fans)

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