Portsmouth manager Kenny Jackett admitted his goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray kept his side in the game after the 1-1 draw with Sunderland.
The result means both the Black Cats and Pompey are relying on one of Luton or Barnsley slipping up on the final day if they are to have any chance of making the automatic promotion spots in League One.
But while praising Sunderland 1-1 Portsmouth: Five key points as Black Cats end on a dampener at home , Jackett did acknowledge the fact that keeper MacGillivray was far busier than his opposite number Jon McLaughlin in the home goal.
MacGillivray made three excellent saves to deny Lewis Morgan, Charlie Wyke and Will Grigg from firing home a winner.
"I felt we dug in, I felt our keeper made two outstanding saves, and was the busier keeper, in the second half anyway," he told the Portsmouth News.
"We kept going forward, unable to get the right passes up there and when Oli Hawkins came on in the second half we didn't quite get up the pitch as easily as we normally do with him playing.
"But obviously Sunderland are a big club and a very good club and the atmosphere here today was excellent.
"In normal circumstances it was a very good point."
The draw brought to an end a run of seven consecutive wins for Portsmouth, but Jackett feels their excellent form could be vital if they have to settle for the play-offs , with the chance of another meeting with Sunderland at Wembley still very much on the cards.
"We obviously wanted to win, as Sunderland did, and chasing the top two as both clubs that was our priority," he added.
"In the last eight games we've won seven and drawn one, which is Sunderland away, which you really can't complain about.
"That run is fantastic. The form that the sides have shown all season really, the points total, if we hadn't put that type of pace on it would be over now."
Jack Ross reacts to Sunderland's draw against Portsmouth, and it's effect on their promotion chances
Sunderland 1-1 Portsmouth: Five key points as Black Cats end on a dampener at home
