Fans will have trudged out of Fratton Park feeling frustrated about a third successive defeat.
Matthew Kilgallon’s header 10 minutes from time was enough to secure a maximum haul of points for third-placed Bradford.
But Ben Close believes there were still plenty of positive signs from the Blues despite the ultimate outcome.
And the academy graduate hopes they can take elements from their display into forthcoming fixtures.
He said: “That’s football. There are times when sides think they were the better team and don’t pick up any points.
“I don’t think we can be too down after that performance because we were pretty solid and they didn’t have many chances.
"I feel that we can still take some confidence from the way we played overall into our next fixture."
“Sometimes when things aren’t going your way then little things like that just seem to fall against you.
“But I feel that we can still take some confidence from the way we played overall into our next fixture.
“We have learnt from previous mistakes and you didn’t really see those individual errors on this occasion.
“It was just the final touch going forward that we didn’t have and another day it might have been a better outcome.”
Close has now started eight successive league games, having only appeared in cup ties for Pompey last term.
He said: “I’m physically stronger this season and I’m reading the game better – that comes with games.
“So I’m happy to have this long run in the side and I think I’ve learnt a lot – hopefully it will keep going.”