Midfielder makes Portsmouth Championship call after Blackburn Rovers frustration

But the Pompey midfielder believes his side are now in a position to show their Championship credentials, as the fixture intensity is ramped up after the international.

John Mousinho’s side gave up an early lead against Tony Mowbray’s men, before Colby Bishop’s 74th-minute leveller pulled his team back into the game after goals from Oladapo Afolayan and Ryoya Morishita put the visitors in front.

Pompey racked up 20 shots on goal, but a combination of missed chances, determined defending and saves by Blackburn keeper Balasz Toth meant the home side could find a greater reward.

Bailey reflected the disappointment in the Pompey dressing room at not picking up another two points

He said: ‘There’s a lot of frustration in the dressing room.

‘We had large spells where we were having chance after chance after chance. It just wouldn’t go in. If one of those go in you could see it being 3-1 or 4-1.

‘The game then went the other way, but the lads showed great determination and fight to get that goal back.

‘Then we looked like the side who were going to win it at the end.’

Pompey now pause for three weeks across the international break, before they return with a south-coast derby trip to St Mary’s Stadium against Southampton.

That marks the start of five games in the space of 13 days, with Bailey believing his team are ready to show what they are capable of over that period.

He added: ‘It’s been a steady start. Don’t get me wrong, we would have liked to have some more points - especially on the back of some of those performances.

‘But I do feel we are in a good place to go and build on this, coming into the next block of games.

‘The games are going to come thick and fast with a double-week games, so it’s about keeping that high intensity for all the games.

‘I do feel we’re now in a good place to do that - and when we come back from the international break we need to start showing how good we are.’