For the second game in a row, Portsmouth put in a creditable performance but got nothing for it.
In the first half they were much the better side but couldn't take advantage of a plethora of chances. A draw would have been an okay result, but that was thrown away by conceding a poor late goal.
This Pompey side is comfortably better than the one that ended 2025, but the lack of goals remains a big issue.
It feels like a week can't go by without further Pompey injuries. Conor Chaplin could miss the next four matches, although John Swift deputised with possibly his best showing of the season.
Aji Alese was always a risk to sign, given his injury record. A torn quad means it's a risk that has failed to pay off.