Pompey claimed a 2-0 win at Victoria Park today and have booked themselves a date with Plymouth Argyle in the League Two play-offs.
After a goalless first half which saw Trevor Carson deny Gareth Evans twice, former Hartlepool loanee Kal Naismith opened the scoring early in the second half by flicking in Evans's cross.
Substitute Conor Chaplin then bagged a late second by turning in Enda Stevens's cross as Pompey recorded their eleventh away win of the season. Brian Murphy also proved his worth with a few outstanding saves at 1-0 which may improve Pompey fans' opinions of him going into the play-offs.
One final positive to come from the game was Jack Whatmough's return to the side after a long time out injured as he replaced Christian Burgess for the final few minutes of the game.
Wins for Oxford, Accrington and Bristol Rovers mean that the slim hope of automatic promotion has gone but Plymouth's failure to win at Cambridge guarantees that they and Portsmouth will finish either fifth or sixth in League Two and so will play each other.
Pompey are currently above Argyle on goal difference ahead of the final league game against Northampton. If they equal Plymouth's result at home to Hartlepool next weekend then the second leg of the play-off semi-finals will be played at Fratton Park with the dates for those games still to be confirmed by the Football League
It would be great if Paul Cook's men could go into their match with Plymouth, whenever and wherever it is, with four straight league wins under their belts for the first time this season.