The Blues are punished for wasting first half chances in South Yorkshire and fall to another loss on the road.
It’s yet another defeat away from home for John Mousinho’s side, with their 69-year winless record at Bramall Lane continuing.
It’s still just 1 win away from home in the league all season for Pompey, which came back in October in a 2-1 win over Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.
The Blues stay above the drop zone, but now sit just 2 points above the relegation zone after narrowly missing out on at least a point, potentially three if they converted the shots on goal that the stats recorded.
Portsmouth had a chance early on when Callum Lang played in Colby Bishop, but the Blues number nine was unable to find the target after taking the ball around Michael Cooper in The Blades’ net.
On the 15th minute play stopped, when fans and players in Bramall Lane took part in a minute's applause for 15-year-old Harvey Willgoose; a young and dedicated Blades supporter who tragically passed away earlier this week.
Pompey had another chance to open the scoring, but Lang was unable to convert the ball into the back of the net, instead skying the ball over the bar keeping the scoreline goalless.
Gustavo Hamer was found down the left flank by Ben Brereton Diaz with all the time in the world, with Zack Swanson being out of position at right back, before the Dutch playmaker breezed his way past Atkinson and Shaughnessy to place the ball into the bottom left-hand corner past Nicolas Schmid to open the scoreline at 1-0.
Connor Ogilvie then found his way into the penalty area when Josh Murphy had the ball of the left wing, with the Blues winger placing the ball into Ogilvie into the penalty area who converted the ball past Cooper to score the equaliser for Pompey and make the score level at 1-1.
Murphy fired an ambitious effort at goal when he cut across on the left wing, but the winger's effort smacked the crossbar and nearly put Pompey in front after being one-nil down just twenty minutes beforehand.
Half time: Sheffield United 1-1 Portsmouth
Portsmouth had the ball into the back of the net just moments into the second 45, but Bishop’s header from Murphy’s cross was ruled out for offside.
Murphy then found himself getting the better of Blades fullback; Harry Clarke yet again, but the Pompey number 23’s effort was tipped over the bar by Cooper and out for a Portsmouth corner just before the hour mark.
Clarke then had a chance to put United 2-1 up, but the Ipswich Town loanee’s effort was a simple save for Schmidt in goal, who was in uproar with his defence who should have closed down the right back a lot sooner.
Bishop had his head in his hands with 20 minutes left to play, with the Pompey forward being stunned that his deflected effort was unable to put the Blues in front.
Adil Aouchiche was on for his Portsmouth debut for captain Matt Ritchie, with the Sunderland loanee slotting in behind Bishop in attacking midfield, pushing Lang out to the right wing.
It was then Jesuran Rak-Sakyi who scored the third goal of the game, after the Crystal Palace loanee got onto the end of fellow substitute; Rhian Brewster’s ball, to make it two-one to The Blades.
Harry Clarke then had enough of Josh Murphy getting the better of him, chopping down the Pompey winger and in consequence conceding a yellow card from referee Oliver Langford.
Ninety minutes was too much for Connor Shaughnessy who was subbed for Hayden Matthews, and Andre Dozzell was off for Liverpool loanee Kaide Gordon with ten minutes of normal time remaining.
Fourth official Andrew Kitchen put his board up for five minutes of added time after the ninety minutes of normal time were up.
Full time: Sheffield United 2-1 Portsmouth
Next up: Portsmouth return to Fratton Park on Tuesday, as John Mousinho’s side welcome Cardiff City, resembling a fixture that was played on Portsmouth’s biggest day in the club's history.
It was in 2008 at Wembley stadium that Premier League Pompey defeated Championship Cardiff one-nil to win the FA Cup thanks to a Kanu goal under the Wembley arch.
The last time Pompey welcomed the Bluebirds to the South Coast was almost 14 years ago in 2011, with that game ending in a 1-1 draw.
Pompey are without a win in the Championship since Stoke City nearly three weeks ago, the Blues need a win under the lights, or it may go from bad to worse for Portsmouth in the standings.
Sheffield United: 1. Cooper (GK), 18. Clarke, 15. Ahmedhodzic, 19. Robinson (C), 14. Burrows (3. McCallum), 24. Choudhury (42. Peck), 21. Souza, 8. Hamer, 23. Campbell (11. Rak-Sakyi), 20. Brereton Diaz (7. Brewster), 28. Cannon (4. Holding)
Unused subs: 31. Faxon (GK), 10. O’Hare, 33. Norrington-Davies, 35. Brooks
Goals: Hamer 24’ Rak-Sakyi 73’
Bookings: Brereton Diaz 42’ Clarke 77’ Peck 86’ Ahemdhodzic 90’
Manager: Chris Wilder
Portsmouth: 13. Schmid, 22. Swanson, 6. Shaughnessy (44. Matthews), 35. Atkinson, 3. Ogilvie, 21. Dozzell (14. Gordon), 8. Potts (7. Pack) 30. Ritchie (C) (17. Aouchiche) 49. Lang, 23. Murphy, 9. Bishop
Unused subs: 31. Archer, 15. Saydee, 18. Bramall, 24. Devlin, 45. Hayden
Goals: Ogilvie 27’
Bookings: Atkinson 25’
Head Coach: John Mousinho
Venue: Bramall Lane
Referee: Oliver Langford
Attendance: 29,104 (Including over 2,514 Pompey fans)
The Pompey Live: Extra-Time podcast is now available to download too - Jake Smith and Pepe Lacey were on hand to dissect the game in full on Express FM.
The Football Hour returns this Monday (February 10th) evening from 6pm with Jake Smith, Jeff Harris and Ian Chiverton for more reaction to the Blues' defeat at Bramall Lane and a preview of the midweek meeting with Cardiff City at Fratton Park.
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