It looked Pompey were going to bring the curtain down on 2022 in the best way possible.
Marlon Pack’s brilliant free-kick and a Colby Bishop meant they led 2-1 against an Ipswich side who appear destined for the Championship.
But Conor Chaplin came back to haunt the Fratton faithful on his return to the south coast, pouncing with three minutes of normal time reaming to ensure the spoils would be shared.
It was a cruel way for the hosts to be denied victory, but Danny Cowley was proud with the display produced by his side.
The Blues boss said: “You’re always going to be disappointed and frustrated when you concede an equaliser as late as we did.
“But we defended well as a collective for a large majority of the game and our organisation was really good.
“The players showed a discipline and commitment to their roles, while we carried a threat on the counter-attack.
“Marlon has waited a long time to score for Pompey and it was a brilliant finish from a top player. He deserved that.
"The players showed a discipline and commitment to their roles, while we carried a threat on the counter-attack."
“Ipswich are probably the best League One team I’ve seen in my lifetime and it was a diligent performance from us.
“They had some control and rhythm in their play, but they weren’t really hurting us and we restricted them.
“Out effort and attitude were excellent – although they’re prerequisites. We showed a willingness to put the team first.
“For all those reasons we deserved to hang on and come away with all three points, but it just wasn’t to be.
“We can’t feel sorry for ourselves, though, and we have to keep working and doing the right things because the games come thick and fast.”
Pompey’s preparations for the fixture were hampered by a sickness bug that ripped through the training ground over Christmas.
Cowley said: “We picked a team of players that were fit and healthy enough – Connor Ogilvie has done really well because he was so pale on Boxing Day.
“Denver Hume didn’t train on Wednesday and it wasn’t ideal to bring him on at half-time, but it was a case of needs must because Clark Robertson just tightened up in the hip area.
“There’s a lot of sickness, but I think that’s the case all over the country. It’s something you have to deal with.”