Guy Whittingham was pleased with a point as Pompey showed their character to grab a 2-2 draw at table-topping Tranmere.
The caretaker Blues boss saw his side fall behind to Ash Taylor’s header in the first half, which Gabor Gyepes cancelled out early in the second period.
But then in a crazy 60 seconds, Michael O’Halloran put the home side ahead again with a close-range header, only for substitute Jake Jervis to notch his first Pompey goal almosty instantly with a fine curling effort.
In a frantic final few minutes, both sides could have nicked the result, with another Pompey sub Scott Allan going agonisingly close to snatching the winner with the last kick of the game.
Whittingham said: ‘We’re obviously delighted with a point.
‘To go a goal down twice and to come back twice shows there is a spirit building.
‘Scott Allan almost nicked it at the end with a good bit of play but the sliding tackle came in and it went just wide.
‘It looked like a good chance but they had a couple of good chances to win it as well.
‘Overall, we’re pleased with the point.
‘I thought we deserved a draw in the end.
‘It’s pleasing to see that the lads have not given up and have still got that fight in them.
‘There are tough times ahead. We all know what is coming but it’s good to know that there is a some real chartacter in the dressing room and we all want to fight for each other.’