It was honours even in Pompey’s opening game of the Checkatrade Trophy. Sort of.
The Fratton contest with Fulham’s under-21 side was all square following the end of an entertaining 90 minutes.
Jamal Lowe bagged a brace, while Kal Naismith was also on target in a match that had plenty of openings at both ends of the pitch.
Competition rules dictate that a bonus point is then up for grabs and it was the visitors who came out on top in the penalty shoot-out.
But Kenny Jackett was disappointed that his side did not make the most of their chances to turn a draw into victory.
The Blues boss said: “We thought we controlled the game and it looked like we were going to win it in the second period.
"We opened it up in the second. It was a better brand of football."
“But we gave some poor goals away defensively on the break and perhaps should have scored a few more.
“We couldn’t get our game right in the first half and made it easy to defend against us, but we opened it up in the second. It was a better brand of football.
“Fair play to Fulham, though, because they busted a gut and that showed their level of motivation.
“There were a few interesting performances from our lads, with some of the guys not having played many minutes. It gave me plenty of food for thought.
“I thought Ben Close played well before getting cramp and coming off, while 16-year-old Joe Hancott looked good at left-back.”
Lowe was particularly impressive and Jackett knows what is required for him to keep troubling opposition defences.
“I was pleased with Jamal,” he said. “You need to get him out wide because he’s drifted inside in the past – and I’d be happy playing against him then!
“If he can stay high and wide then he’s a big threat and any left-back in our division would find him tough to handle.
“He’s not been long out of non-league and we have to make sure that we play to his strengths. He can score goals and he can make them.”