‘This could be the point that defines you’
Paul Warne saluted his side executing their counterattacking game plan effectively and admitted he felt Pompey had ran out of ideas before striking back in the promotion showdown.
And the Derby boss reflected with pride on a raucous top-of-the-table clash that lived up to the billing on a wet and wild Fratton night.
Warne’s side twice led on Tuesday before being pegged back by Owen Moxon’s wonder strike in the 2-2 draw.
A crowd of 20,129 packed into Fratton Park with the occasion matching expectations under the lights, as the top two went toe to toe.
Warne was pleased to see his side execute an approach which attempted to frustrate the home side, deny them spaces to exploit and then hit them on the counter.
It worked for both of Joe Ward’s goal, but the visitors couldn’t see the job out and remain five points off the leaders.
Warne said: ‘I'm really proud, I thought the lads were excellent. Credit to the analysts and Richie Barker and Matt Hamshaw who coach the lads and try and find a weakness in the opposition.
‘I thought, overall, our performance was pretty good and the place was bouncing. This amount of people turning up to watch a game in the third tier is a joke!
‘A lot of effort has gone into this and I'm just disappointed that we've dropped two points from a 30-yard screamer.
‘It felt like they'd got to a stage where they'd ran out of ideas and we always looked dangerous on the counter-attack.
‘If we were losing 2-1 and got a draw we'd be buzzing, but when you're winning 2-1 and feel like the game is just running out of steam it is different.’
The Rams had beaten Blackpool 1-0 on Good Friday and Warne added: ‘We wanted six points but if you'd have said we'd get four points from Blackpool at home and Portsmouth away, I'd have taken it.
‘If we go to Wycombe and don't back it up then this point looks worse. If you back it up with three, which is a big ask, this could be the point that defines you.
‘The lads put so much effort in for one point but one point is still impressive in this sort of pressure.’