Paul Cook and Pompey's fans left Cheltenham with mixed feelings after Michael Smith's late goal rescued a point.
Cheltenham took the lead midway through the second half and it looked like ending in another demoralising away defeat like those at Accrington and Blackpool. But Smith pounced to convert a Carl Baker cross to extend Pompey's unbeaten league run to three games.
They face Luton and Stevenage in the next seven days still with plenty of work to do to close the gap on the top three.
The Blues were unchanged at Whaddon Road and almost took the lead in the opening stages when Baker was set up by Gary Roberts but saw his shot saved when one-on-one.
Town vainly claimed a penalty when Danny Wright went down in the box while Pompey's best efforts at the other end came via Kyle Bennett and Danny Rose.
Gareth Evans was instrumental in Pompey's strong end to the first half, first sending in a cross from which Baker's header forced a great save, then almot getting on the end of a Roberts effort.
It was keeper Russell Griffiths v Pompey for a while early in the second half as he denied Roberts after the Pompey man was put through, and then kept out a Conor Chaplin header.
Cheltenham went ahead on 65 minutes and it was another goal against Pompey that came from a free-kick floated into their box - not dissimilar to the ones they conceded against Doncaster and Notts Co at home. This time the ball pinged around the box before Daniel O'Shaughnessy fired past David Forde.
Michael Smith, Noel Hunt and Kal Naismith came on as Cook tried to shake things up and salvage something and within a minute of the latter two coming in, the Blues were level. Baker crossed and when Griffiths didn't hold on to it, Smith fired in the equaliser.
Two points lost or one gained? You could argue it either way but Pompey will be looking for at least four points in total from this week's clashes with Luton and Stevenage.
Pompey (4-2-3-1): Forde; Evans, Burgess, Clarke, Stevens; Rose, Doyle (c); Baker, Roberts (Naismith 81), Bennett (Smith 75); Chaplin (Hunt 81) Goals: Smith 82 Booked: Chaplin, Burgess, Baker Subs not used: O’Brien, Talbot, Whatmough, Lalkovic
Referee: John Brooks
Attendance: 4,702 (1,537 Pompey fans)
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