It was the gift that Danny Cowley most wanted on his 44th birthday.
And although it was not always pretty, Pompey ultimately battled to a 1-0 victory in their first meeting with Forest Green.
The only goal at The New Lawn arrived in the first half, with Sean Raggett heading home an Owen Dale free-kick.
With injuries ensuring he had to hand three players their first league start of the season, it was a pleasing outcome for Cowley.
The Blues boss said: “I was actually trying to keep my birthday quiet – there’s no chance of that in Portsmouth!
“But I had two wishes and one was to get three points, while the other was to get a couple more midfielders back.
“We’re really short in that area at the moment and it’s been a challenging week since Charlton, so credit to the boys.
“It wasn’t a perfect performance, but we showed grit, resilience and determination to keep a clean sheet.
“We looked a goal threat through the game and had Zak Swanson and Jay Mingi making their first league starts, so there’s a lot to be pleased about.
"It wasn’t a perfect performance, but we showed grit, resilience and determination to keep a clean sheet."
“The supporters were unbelievable and they’ve definitely made my birthday. They got behind us and were able to drive the energy.”
Cowley reserved particular praise for fellow birthday boy Mingi, who produced an eye-catching display on his full league debut.
He said: “Jay was exceptional. For a kid coming in and making his debut, he played with energy and athleticism.
“He has this ability to be able to pick the ball up and speed your play up by driving through the midfield – it was like Moses parting the Red Sea.
“There was a lot to like from him and he tired towards the end. We didn’t want to take him off and the next challenge is to produce a 90-minute performance.
“Ryan Tunnicliffe also deserves a special mention because it’s not easy coming in off so little, but he really played for the team and dug deep.”
Cowley also explained why Joe Morrell was removed from the starting line-up and not brought on as a substitute.
He said: “Joe hasn’t trained and we thought he’d be alright to be on the bench because he’s a good professional and always puts himself forward.
“But when he warmed-up he just wasn’t right and walked back in, so we’re a bit light there at the minute.”