Pompey required three points to get the party started, but had to settle for just one at Bolton.
The ‘P’ word was certainly at the forefront of everyone’s mind when Abu Kamara fired the visitors into an early lead.
But the hosts applied pressure and it paid off when Aaron Collins nodded them back on level terms just before the break.
John Mousinho was unhappy with the way his side performed between those two big moments, although he was satisfied with the overall display.
The Blues boss said: “I was really displeased with the way we responded to going ahead after such a bright start.
“We were excellent, we got the goal and then we seemed to just go into our shells a little bit – perhaps the occasion got the better of us.
“There were some uncharacteristic decisions, we slashed at clearances and we weren’t tracking runners.
"We were excellent, we got the goal and then we seemed to just go into our shells a little bit – perhaps the occasion got the better of us."
“I thought the Bolton goal was coming, but then we clicked back into gear and were decent again, although needed the break to regroup.
“The second half was a good game of football and we were able to wrestle some control back, creating decent chances on the counter.
“Bolton will probably consider themselves a bit unlucky, but our job – not that we set up that way – was not to lose.
“We know what we need to do now on Tuesday and we’ll make sure to prepare properly. The rewards will certainly be there at the back of our mind.”
Mousinho felt that Pompey should have been awarded a stoppage-time spot-kick for a foul on Kusini Yengi.
He said: “Anyone with eyes on me would know I thought it was a stonewall penalty – those decisions get given anywhere else on the pitch.
“For some reason, there’s this really high threshold against Colby and Kusini, but their player had no interest in the ball.
“We didn’t get the decision and I thought that was strange, but we just have to dust ourselves down and get on with it.”
