Jack Sparkes wants to ensure that Pompey’s below-par performance against Fleetwood is just a blip.
The last fixture before Christmas finished in a 1-1 draw at Fratton Park, with Colby Bishop’s penalty cancelled out by Josh Earl.
And although there was plenty of pressure applied by the hosts, they struggled to carve out many clear-cut openings in their search for a winner.
But with the festive fixture schedule in full flow, Sparkes knows that the Blues have to quickly put things right.
He said: “It’s disappointing because of the quality we’ve got in the squad and the position we are in the table.
“We could have made it a lot easier for ourselves, so we’ve got to pick ourselves up and be ready for Boxing Day.
"It’s tough when a team is sitting in, but you have to find a way to break them down and on another day we’d do that."
“We were sloppy in the first 20 minutes or so of the second half and became a bit too open for our liking.
“That was after we had been on top in the first half and got the lead, so I can’t put my finger on why that changed.
“It’s tough when a team is sitting in, but you have to find a way to break them down and on another day we’d do that.
“There are a lot of things for us to work on when we’re back in training on Sunday as we look to bounce back.”
Despite a disappointing afternoon, Sparkes has forged an encouraging performance with Paddy Lane on the left flank in recent weeks.
He said: “I’ve played with a few lads down that side already this season, but at the moment we’re working well together.
“Paddy’s work-rate is unbelievable and helps me out when I need it, while I like to have that licence to get forward.”