Forest Green boss Ian Burchnall refused to be downbeat as Sean Raggett’s goal handed Portsmouth a narrow 1-0 victory.
Defender Raggett scored the winner with ease in the seventeenth minute.
Winger Owen Dale sent over a corner from the left and Raggett jumped unmarked eight yards out to plant a downward header into the far corner of the net.
“I was disappointed with the result but I was extremely pleased with a lot of parts of the performance today,” said Burchnall.
“I thought that in general we were probably the more dominant team in the game and they really had to hang on for the win.
“Considering the opposition, we knew it would be tough.”
Meanwhile, Pompey boss Danny Cowley saw his birthday wish come true.
Cowley said: “I woke up this morning and my birthday wish was three points and a couple of midfielders, as we are short in that area!
“On the whole, a clean sheet and three points, it has been a good day.
“So far we’re on about two points a game which is a good return. We’re a bit light at the moment with too many injuries. We’re down to the bare bones, but the group came together.
“We showed a lot of grit, determination and resilience. There is a lot to be pleased about.”
Forest Green had the first sight of goal in the third minute, but striker Connor Wickham was furious with himself after under hitting a crafty lob from the edge of the box straight into the hands of Josh Griffiths.
Opposite number Luke McGee produced a superb save six minutes later when he turned striker Colby Bishop’s point blank twelve yard effort onto the top of the bar.
Portsmouth kept up the first half pressure into injury time when winger Rohan Curtis curled a 22 yard shot just wide.
Rovers striker Armani Little flashed a low shot across the face of goal and inches wide in the 64th minute, but the defeat means last season’s League Two Champions are rooted in the drop zone and have now not won in eight games.
Pompey substitute Dane Scarlett came close to adding two quick fire late goals.
In the 78th minute he stung McGee’s hands with a twenty yard shot and two minutes later sent a diving header wide from eight yards with the goal begging.
And McGee did well to stop Portsmouth adding a second in the 94th minute when he raced from his line to block Bishop’s late shot.
