The Checkatrade Trophy provided Pompey with the opportunity to end their losing run.
But it is league results at the top of the priorities list and they have been beaten in their past three against Doncaster, Blackburn and Bradford.
A mammoth trek to 12th-placed Blackpool is not the easiest location to try to get things back on track.
And with Pompey having already been beaten five times on the road this term, Kenny Jackett wants to see more from his squad.
The Blues boss said: “It’s a big game and Tuesday’s result will help with confidence as we try to achieve our aim of climbing the table and challenging for one of those promotion places.
"We’ve had too many goals against and I don’t think that we’ve worked hard enough to stay in games."
“Our home form has been better than our away form – and that’s in terms of performances as well as results.
“We’ve had too many goals against and I don’t think that we’ve worked hard enough to stay in games. That’s something we have to address.
“You need to have good enough players, with plenty of character and organisation if you want to bounce back.
“Blackpool came out of League Two recently and are, like us, trying to establish themselves in a higher division.
“They’re a mid-table side at the moment and play good football, so we have to respect them. My focus is on our team, though.”
Kal Naismith returned to the starting line-up against Charlton in the Checkatrade Trophy and was one of a few players to catch Jackett’s eye.
He said: “Kal got some minutes earlier in the season and has been on the bench on a pretty regular basis recently without getting on the pitch.
“He responded well when he played on Tuesday, showing plenty of passion and commitment. Overall he had a good game – as did a number of people.
“There were some very good individual performances and we have quite a number of people back fit, which is good because we want healthy competition.”
Pompey skipper Brett Pitman is available, despite pulling out of the Charlton game after feeling discomfort in his knee.
Jackett explained: “Brett trained on Thursday, so he’s feeling fit and looking forward to the weekend.
“But Milan Lalkovic came off on Tuesday with a reoccurrence of his Achilles injury, which is frustrating for him.”