The 3-3 stalemate at Hillsborough took many by surprise given the Owls’ transfer business during the summer and the 4-0 win they secured against the Blues on the final day of last season just three months ago.
But in truth, Pompey will have been disappointed with just a draw as Danny Cowley’s new-look battling side came within minutes of securing a huge victory on day one of the new term.
The Blues, nevertheless, put down an important marker for the challenge ahead and will no doubt have made others in League One sit up and take notice.
Cowley admitted before a ball was kicked in Yorkshire that he was happy to go into the season under the radar.
Well, that won’t happen now given the result at Hillsborough.
But what do the bookies’ think now about the race for promotion from the division and, in particular, the Blues’ chances of reaching the Championship?
Well, we checked in with SkyBet to see exactly just that with day one of the new campaign now out of the way.
Here's what he discovered.
5. Burton - 28/1
IN: Davis Keillor-Dunn (Oldham, free), Viljami Sinisalo (Aston Villa, loan), Quevin Castro (West Brom, loan), Victor Adeboyejo (Barnsley, free), Calum Butcher (Dundee Utd, free), Tyler Onyango (Everton, loan). OUT: Bryn Morris (Grimsby, free), Ryan Leak (Salford, undisc), Michael Bostock (Stevenage, free). Photo: Charlotte Tattersall
6. Port Vale - 25/1
IN: Lewis Cass (Newcastle, free), Funso Ojo (Aberdeen, free), Gavin Massey (Wigan, free), Derek Agyakwa (Watford, free), Will Forrester (Stoke, free). OUT: James Gibbons (Bristol Rovers, free), Jack Taylor (Morecambe, undisc). Photo: Eddie Keogh
7. Lincoln - 25/1
IN: Paudie O’Connor (Bradford, free), Charles Vernam (Bradford, free), Tashan Oakley-Boothe (Stoke, loan), Jay Benn (Halifax, undisc), Danny Mandriou (Shamrock Rovers, undisc), Carl Rushworth (Brighton, loan). OUT: Conor McGrandles (Charlton, free), Theo Archibald (Leyton Orient, undisc), Max Melbourne (Morecambe, free), Cohen Brammall (Rotherham, undisc), Liam Bridcutt (Unattached, fee). Photo: George Wood
8. Cambridge United - 25/1
IN: James Holden (Reading, undisc), Saikou Janneh (Bristol City, undisc), Brandon Haunstrup (Kilmarnock, free), Zeno Ibsen Rossi (Bournemouth, undisc), Fejiri Okenabirhie (Doncaster, free). OUT: Jack Iredale (Bolton, free), Liam Bennett (Walsall, loan). Photo: Stu Forster