Two late goals by Nottingham Forest at the City Ground enabled boss Billy Davies to oversee their fine unbeaten home record. Portsmouth took the lead in the first half and looked like ending that 32 game unbeaten record as the game entered the last three minutes.
But a leveller than an injury time winner sealed the 2-1 win and a place just outside the play-offs.
Davies said: "Portsmouth are a Premier League club with Premier League players and salaries and it showed with the way they played against us.
"Like ours, their squad is on the small side but they made it very difficult for us today. They got their goal and kept hitting us on the counter. They have a physical presence and stature and they are a dangerous side to play against. They bullied us in the first half.
"But we showed great spirit and great determination and it was a wonderful three points to take against an excellent side.
"We had to change our game and the substitutes made an impact to help us turn the game in our favour. It was a great ball from Lewis McGugan and a superb header from Marcus Tudgay that won it after we had got the equaliser."
Davies added: "Games like this against quality players are another big learning curve for this team and although we were a goal behind late in the game, you never give up hope. The great sides in the world kill teams in the last few minutes.
"It's not the first time this season we have come from behind and it won't be the last. We've got a fantastic record of 32 unbeaten games here."
Portsmouth boss Steve Cotterill was the proverbial sick as a parrot.
Cotterill said: "It's a cruel game but you just have to take it on the chin and keep going forward. We didn't deserve that today. We keep getting kicks in the teeth but we'll take it and be ready again for next Saturday. We just have to get on with it but I am tough and durable.
"If we had had their bench we would have seen that game out ... 100 per cent certain we would have done that. But we can't bring on the kind of players that Forest have at their disposal."
