Nathan Thompson has hailed Pompey’s consistency after they went six points clear at the top of the League One table.
A Michael Turner own-goal and Jamal Lowe’s header saw them beat Southend 2-0 at Fratton Park and secure an eighth successive victory in all competitions.
It was a comfortable afternoon for the hosts, with their opponents failing to register a single shot on target.
And Thompson is happy with the Blues’ habit of constantly picking up points – even when there are not at their best.
The right-back said: “The position we find ourselves in at the moment is the biggest motivation that we need because we’re about 14 or 15 wins away from the Championship.
“You just focus on the task ahead because everyone wants to be there and I want to test myself at that level.
"You look at this team and the way we grind out wins even when we’re not playing particularly well – I haven’t been in a side as capable of doing that before."
“That’s where this club deserves to be and we just have keep working away because we’re not at the halfway point until after the Sunderland game.
“You look at this team and the way we grind out wins even when we’re not playing particularly well – I haven’t been in a side as capable of doing that before.
“We look rock solid and there are seven out of 10 performances across the board every week, which gives you a huge base to build on.
“Matt Clarke and Jack Whatmough at the back are only young lads and they’re consistently churning out those displays.”
There were more than 18,000 fans packed inside the ground to see the Pompey bandwagon continue to roll on.
Thompson said: “There’s a real puff of pride when you see this crowd bouncing or go to away games and have near enough half the stadium.”