The gap between the Blues and the Championship relegation zone is cut to just 4 points following a late defeat in the capital.
It was Serbian Under-21 forward Mihailo Ivanovic who was at the double for Millwall and he is also now the only Lions player to score against Portsmouth in the Championship this season, having scored the only goal of the game in January’s 1-0 win at Fratton Park.
Andre Dozzell thought he had snatched a vital point for Pompey with 10 minutes to go, but Ivanovic was left to score yet another free header to win it at the death, much like his first goal earlier on in this tie.
The defeat still keeps Portsmouth in 17th place, however with other results in and around the Blues not going their way, Pompey are now just a slim 4 points above the bottom 3.
Colby Bishop had the best chance of the first half when he caught the ball on the half volley, but the number nine’s effort was palmed away by Lukas Jensen in the Millwall net.
Five minutes before the break, Japhet Tanganga was forced off after he fell on top of his right arm, with the former Tottenham defender being replaced by Ryan Leonard on 40 minutes.
Tristan Krama moved across to centre back from right back to replace Tanganga with Leonard filling in at right-back.
5 minutes were added on to the end of the first half, which finished goalless.
Half-time: Millwall 0-0 Portsmouth
Not much happened in the opening stages of the first half, with both sets of supporters throwing chants at one another, Millwall sang their iconic “Millllllllll” into ‘no one likes us’ whilst Pompey fans replied with “Play Up Pompey” and “Blue Army”.
Eventually there was a goal in this tie, when Mihailo Ivanovic headed home George Honeyman’s cross to make it 1-0 to the hosts as the Serbian scored his sixth goal of the season and 2nd against Pompey.
It was almost an immediate reply from Portsmouth, when West Ham loanee Freddie Potts’ corner caused chaos in the Millwall box before falling to the feet of Matt Ritchie, but the Blues skipper's close-range shot hit the post.
John Mousinho made a triple substitution with twenty minutes remaining, as the visitors looked to find a way back in this tie.
Jordan Williams, Matt Ritchie and Cohen Bramall came off for Marlon Pack, Christian Saydee and Harvey Blair who has not made a Blues appearance since Swansea away back in November.
The substitutes changed Portsmouth’s line up, with Terry Devlin moving to right back, Saydee in behind Bishop, Pack at centre back next to Regan Poole, which moved Ogilvie to his natural position of left back and Harvey Blair on the right wing.
Something was said to Portsmouth boss John Mousinho by a supporter in The Barry Kitchener stand, with the Blues boss reporting the incident to the referee and the fourth official.
Portsmouth then found their equaliser with ten minutes remaining after Andre Dozzell slammed home Millwall’s scramble in the box after a Harvey Blair cross to make it 1-1 at The Den.
The Lions immediately made a triple substitution following the Portsmouth equaliser, with Aaron Connolly, Josh Coburn and George Saville coming off for Billy Mitchell, Macauley Langstaff and Aidomo Emakhu.
But it was with 3 minutes to go when the Lions snatched a potential point from Pompey and it was that man Mihailo Ivanovic again to score his and Millwall’s 2nd goal of the afternoon and his 3rd goal against Portsmouth this season.
Pompey were left furious with the goal being stood after there was a potential foul on Harvey Blair from Joe Bryan, before Casper De Norre crossed the ball to Ivanovic to score again.
Pompey made their 4th and final sub of the afternoon, with a cramped Terry Devlin coming off for Australian forward Thomas Waddingham.
An additional six minutes were added on to the end of the 90 minutes, with Pompey finding themselves seeking a leveller for the second time in this tie.
Full-time: Millwall 2-1 Portsmouth
Next up: A trip to the West Midlands on Wednesday for John Mousinho’s side, as Portsmouth travel to the Coventry Building Society Stadium to face Frank Lampard’s Coventry City in an 8pm kick-off.
In the reverse fixture Pompey smashed Coventry 4-1 at Fratton Park, with Callum Lang netting all four goals, but the Blues will be without the attacker who is set to miss the rest of the season with a hamstring injury.
Can Pompey achieve what would be just their third away win of the season? It will be a tough test against a Coventry City side who have lost two games on the bounce and are still looking to reach their goal of reaching this season’s Championship Play-Offs.
Millwall: 1. Jensen, 52. Crama, 6. Tanganaga (18. Leonard), 5. Cooper (C), 15. Bryan, 24. De Norre, 23. Saville (8. Mitchell), 39. Honeyman, 9. Connolly (22. Emakhu) 26. Ivanovic, 21. Coburn (17. Langstaff)
Unused Subs: 41. Evans (GK), 3. Wallace, 14. Wintle, 25. Cundle, 45. Harding
Goals: Ivanovic 58’, Ivanovic 87’
Manager: Alex Neil
Portsmouth: 13. Schmid (GK), 2. Williams (15. Saydee), 5. Poole, 3. Ogilvie, 18. Bramall (7. Pack), 8. Potts, 21. Dozzell, 30. Ritchie (C) (29. Blair), 24. Devlin (20. Waddingham) 23. Murphy, 9. Bishop
Unused Subs: 31. Archer (GK), 14. Gordon, 17. Aouchiche, 37. Milošević, 45. Hayden
Goal: Dozzell 80’
Bookings: Devlin 24’, Bishop 59’, Ritchie 68’, Pack 90+1’
Head coach: John Mousinho
Venue: The Den
Referee: Ben Toner
Attendance: 16,913 (including 2,000 Pompey fans)
Be sure to catch up with the latest Pompey Live: Extra-Time podcast for more reaction to this weekend's game at The Den, where Jake Smith was joined on the panel by Kirsty Roxanne and James Wilson.
Jake returns with The Football Hour on Monday (April 7th) evening from 6pm with further reflection on the match and a preview of the Blues' midweek trip to Coventry City.
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