Pompey have not always come tearing out of the blocks this season.
In fact, they had failed to find the net in the first 30 minutes of any league game until MK Dons came to town.
The men from Buckinghamshire were the victims of a stunning first half display from the hosts that meant the points were all but wrapped up by the break.
Oliver Hawkins grabbed an early opener by turning home Matty Kennedy’s cross, before converting a Jamal Lowe delivery in stoppage-time.
And while Kenny Jackett believes there is still plenty of room for improvement, he was pleased with most of what he saw.
The Blues boss said: “We played very well in the first half and deservedly scored two good goals.
“Perhaps we didn’t get as many shots away as we could have, although we got up around their box quite a lot.
"We set high standards and need to stick to them."
“I certainly can’t complain about being 2-0 up at the break and then we defended tremendously well in the second period.
“We gave too many soft free-kicks away, though, and invited balls into our box that could have caught us out on another day.
“Our first pass out of defence was also turned over too many times – they’re things that we will learn from.
“But we deserved the victory and it was our second consecutive clean sheet, which is very encouraging and will give our keeper confidence.
“Now we want to build on this result with two very tough away games coming up. We set high standards and need to stick to them.”
Hawkins had been used as a makeshift defender in the past two matches, but produced a clinical display in his more natural striking role.
Jackett said: “I’m pleased for him because he’s made a big impression here – at both ends of the pitch – in just a short amount of time.
“He helped us at the back while Christian Burgess was out, but now he’s up front where he wants to be.”