Danny Cowley praised a Pompey performance that had everything – except for a goal.
There were plenty of positives to take from a 0-0 draw with promotion hopefuls Sheffield Wednesday at Fratton Park.
The home side carved open a number of chances, with Owls stopper Bailey Peacock-Farrell making a string of fine saves.
And with Massimo Luongo sent off for their opponents after the break, the only frustration for Cowley is that his troops were unable to find a winner.
The Blues boss said: “We’re really pleased with the performance when you consider everything that’s gone against us in the past 10 days.
“There’s been illness and an injury list that’s getting bigger, while Sheffield Wednesday came here off the back of a free weekend.
“But the energy, aggression and purpose we played with was really good. It was a display that had everything, apart from the final act.
"That level of performance will win a lot of football games at this level, but now we have to back it up."
“Their keeper was exceptional and some of the saves he made was incredible – I suppose that’s why he’s there.
“I thought it was a really good standard of League One football and we felt the goal was coming because we were in the ascendency.
“The chances that came our way perhaps just fell to the wrong players and we couldn’t find that breakthrough, which means we probably won’t get the credit we deserve.
“That level of performance will win a lot of football games at this level, but now we have to back it up against Morecambe.”
Michael Jacobs has been added to Pompey’s long absentee list, as a sickness bug continues to sweep through the camp.
Cowley said: “We lost him on the morning of the game and even our analyst is off ill at the moment, so it’s been tough.
“Unfortunately, I don’t think the group is going to get any bigger between now and Saturday, so we have to stay professional in our recovery.”