Defeat to Gillingham a little over three weeks ago sent Pompey sliding down to 12th in the League One standings.
It seemed that any hopes of a second successive promotion had been quashed by a poor run of form in 2018.
But three straight victories – against Oldham, Oxford and Walsall – have breathed new life into the season, leaving the Blues just two points outside the top six.
And Gareth Evans knows that the wins have to keep coming if they are to extend the season by a few extra weeks.
“It was only recently when we all thought we’d blown it and might drop into the bottom half of the table,” he says in the official matchday magazine for today’s Fratton contest with table-topping Wigan.
"There are quite a few teams vying for two spots – the good thing is that we’ve still got to play the majority of them."
“The way this league is, though, if you can win two or three on the bounce then you can find yourself right back in the mix and a lot of sides around us haven’t been able to do that.
“Scunthorpe were comfortable, but have dropped off quite a bit and sacked their manager, so now there are quite a few teams vying for two spots – the good thing is that we’ve still got to play the majority of them.
“It’s almost at the point where it’s in our own hands because of that and if we win the rest of our games then I’m sure we’ll be in the play-offs.
“That’s virtually guaranteed. We just have to look after ourselves, try to win as many matches as possible and then see what happens.”
To read the full interview – where Evans also discusses home form, his return from injury and last season’s title success – pick up a copy of the magazine from programme sellers around the ground.
Also in issue 25, Brandon Haunstrup reveals his favourite things, while Brett Pitman takes the Home & Away quiz.
We take an in-depth look at Wigan, while there are exclusive columns from Mark Catlin, Kenny Jackett and Pitman.
All this and much, much more in a packed 84 pages is available for just £3.