Ryan Williams has offered no excuses for Pompey’s recent run of dismal form.
A 2-0 defeat to Sunderland was the latest setback in a run that has seen them go from the League One summit to just about clinging on to a play-off place.
Goals from Charlie Wyke and Jordan Jones did the damage for the resurgent Black Cats at Fratton Park.
And Williams delivered a frank and honest assessment of how the Blues have been performing in recent weeks.
The winger said: “We’ve only got ourselves to blame because we just couldn’t create enough chances against an organised side that we were unable to break down.
“Wyke is in good form at the moment and we tried to stop him from corners, but couldn’t do that and he’s found the back of the net.
"I don’t quite know what the answer is and the group have to work harder than ever before to get out of this hole."
“How I didn’t get a free-kick that’s led to their goal I don’t know, but from that moment to when they scored, it wasn’t good enough.
“As a team we have to defend better. We were scoring a lot of goals up to Christmas, but we weren’t letting in many either.
“We have just got to keep going, work hard and try to do the right things – there’s nothing else we can do.
“It’s so disappointing at how it’s unravelled because we were in such a good position and those wins at Sunderland, Lincoln and Ipswich don’t mean anything now.
“I don’t quite know what the answer is and the group have to work harder than ever before to get out of this hole.
“We have to dust ourselves down and crack on. You’ve got to focus on your performance and also help the guy beside you because we’re a team and in this together.”