Hopes of a Wembley return in the Papa Johns Trophy were dashed by Pompey’s quarter-final defeat at Bolton.
And Marlon Pack knows there can be no hangover ahead of Saturday’s return visit for a League One contest.
The midfielder – who is suspended for this weekend’s contest – felt the Blues performed much better after the break.
But he knows they need to find a bit more composure in the final third in order to turn their form around.
Pack said: “It took us a while to really get going, but once we got to grips with them we were a threat, particularly in the second half.
“The momentum was with us and it felt like we were going to get that goal because we got into good areas, but couldn’t make that count.
"When you’re desperate to win football games, you can be guilty of over-trying instead of taking that extra pass."
“We need a bit more quality and perhaps have to be calmer when we find ourselves in those promising areas.
“When you’re desperate to win football games, though, you can be guilty of over-trying instead of taking that extra pass.
“There was an opportunity for us – both in this game and also in the competition as a whole. We have to let that sink in.
“But then we have to dust ourselves down again quickly because the boys are back here again on Saturday.
“Hopefully we can get three points in the league and get back to winning ways to start climbing back up the table.”
There is currently plenty of interest among the Fratton faithful over who will replace Danny Cowley as head coach.
Pack said: “It’s a three-game week, so there hasn’t been too much opportunity to think about it. Of course you look at who’s linked, though, because it’s a big decision for the club.”