It was an unwelcome case of déjà vu for Pompey when they faced Ipswich on the south coast.
They matched their opponents in the first half, but went in behind before capitulating after the break to lose 4-0.
It was almost a carbon copy of Saturday’s loss at Rotherham, although at least that contest had a Marcus Harness goal to celebrate.
And Danny Cowley is aware that saying sorry for the display will do little to lift the mood of the Fratton faithful.
The Blues boss said: “We were up against a good Ipswich team and there was nothing in the game in the first half.
“There were very few chances, but then a mistake leads to a goal and our response again was well short of what it should be.
“I ultimately take responsibility because it’s my job to make sure the players perform to their best and they didn’t. I have to accept that and be accountable for it.
"Apologies after the event mean very little and I’m not sure anyone really wants to hear too much after a display like that."
“There’s a lot of disappointment and everyone in the changing room feels like they’ve let themselves and the people of Portsmouth down.
“Apologies after the event mean very little, though, and I’m not sure anyone really wants to hear too much after a display like that.
“We have to go away, look at what we stand for, what our values are and what we want to achieve in life.
“If you throw the towel in as soon as something goes against you, then I can tell you that you won’t get very far in this world.”
Cowley will now look to halt a run of 12 fixtures that has yielded a single win and seen Pompey drop to 17th in the table.
He said: “We’ll work relentlessly hard to put things right because we know what a big opportunity this. I’ve fought all my life to get to this point.
“I’ve managed down in the ninth tier of English football and my path hasn’t been easy, but I’ll do what I always do and that’s try to find answers.”