The cries of we're going to Wembley from the Fratton Park crowd provided the ideal juxtaposition to Wycombe Wanderers’ mood as their hopes of reaching the play-offs ended.

This 2-1 defeat at arguably League Two’s most atmospheric ground, coupled with Wimbledon’s win over Leyton Orient, provided the death rattle for Wycombe’s promotion hopes and they will now have to plan for life in football’s fourth tier next season.

The defeat didn’t come through for a lack of effort and Sido Jombati’s free kick gave Wycombe hope of a comeback after falling two behind to strikes from Gary Roberts and Conor Chaplin.

There were late chances for an equaliser but, much like their play-off push, Wycombe’s efforts fell just short of the mark in this must win match.

Danny Rowe was handed his first start since the 2-1 win over Oxford United in December after recovering from a hamstring injury he suffered while on loan with Barrow.

The utility man slotted into central midfield alongside former Portsmouth man Marcus Bean, and looked assured at the base of Wycombe’s midfield three.

League Two 2016 Team of the Year member Joe Jacobson also made a return from injury, but was only able to take a place on the Chairboys’ bench. At the point of attack, Gozie Ugwu was given another chance to lead the line in a front three completed by Paul Hayes and Jerell Sellars.

Ugwu’s inclusion was the latest attempt from Gareth Ainsworth to instil goals in his misfiring Blues attack, but while he was a nuisance up-front, the lack of service to the rangy forward made it tough for him.

The Wanderers manager opted to persist with the 4-3-3 formation which he has favoured for much latter stages of the season.

However, Pompey’s overall dominance saw the Wycombe wide players pushed back into their own half and nullified any attacking threat the front three could offer.

With both sides knowing the potential ramifications of defeat on the South Coast, it was unsurprising to see the opening 10 minutes played at a frantic pace.

Neither Pompey nor Wycombe could lay claim to controlling proceedings, but it was the hosts who had the first semblance of a chance as a ball forward found Enda Steven in space on the left.

The Portsmouth full-back advanced unchallenged into the box and fired a dangerous cross low across the face of goal, only for the retreating Hayes to sweep up the loose ball.

Much of the talk in the past few weeks has resolved around Wycombe trying to play with creativity, and in fairness the first 20 minutes saw the Blues attack link up nicely.

Ugwu, Sellars and the ever economical Marcus Bean were particularly involved as Wycombe worked the ball nicely.

Portsmouth were always likely to create, however, as their need for a win is just as desperate as Wycombe’s and they went close to registering in the 23rd minute.

A simple pass out to the left hand side of the box found Roberts in space and his powerful strike stung the hands of Ryan Allsop.

The Pompey forward fired another warning shot at Wycombe moments later as a sublime first touch took him inside Rowe and allowed him to bend a right footed effort just wide.

He would not be so wasteful eight minutes from the interval as he was presented with the simplest of finishes to break the deadlock with his ninth goal of the season.

A well weighted pass down the right flank from Christian Burgess found Marc McNulty in space, and his squared pass found Roberts who fired into the roof of the net from two yards.

The goal while a hammer blow for the Blues, was, in reality, deserved as the hosts produced the far better openings in the opening 45 minutes.

Things would have been much worse for Ainsworth’s side as, but for the width of a post, they would have been two down at the break.

A well-worked short corner found Kal Naismith on the left corner of the box and he instantly unleashed a fizzing effort.

With Ryan Allsop rooted to the spot, the ball cannoned back off his left hand post to ensure the score remained 1-0.

The second half saw a change of approach from Wycombe as they reverted to a 4-4-2 with Hayes joining Ugwu in attack in a genuine strike partnership.

It was a change which brought with it a brighter start to the second half and the Chairboys were almost level in the 49th minute through Ugwu’s flicked header.

The Wycombe forward got the faintest of touches on Jombati’s superb cross from the left, but Paul Jones was equal to the effort and slung himself to his left to tip the ball around the post.

It was the Blues best chance of finding a leveller and with just over 10 minutes to play their task was made all the more tricky as Pompey doubled their lead.

The manner in which Paul Cook’s side broke through was all too simple as a long ball down the left channel bypassed a static back four.

Substitute Conor Chaplin latched onto the ball settled himself and scuffed a low shot past a helpless Allsop and into the bottom left corner.

The Wycombe response was spirited though, and they were back with within one goal in the 72nd minute as Jombati produced a moment of individual brilliance.

In the absence of regular free kick taker, Jacobson, Jombati stepped forward from 20 yards and clipped an excellent free kick over the Portsmouth wall and into the top corner.

The strike galvanised the Blues and they were almost level minutes later as Southampton loanee McCarthy went within inches of drawing them level.

His volley from 10 yards out beat everyone and was heading in until the intervention of a Portsmouth boot on the line denied the right-back.

Wycombe were not about to let their hopes of reaching the promised land of the League Two play-offs die without a fight and threw on Rowan Liburd to add height up-front for the final 10 minutes.

Garry Thompson also added attacking power and he came closest to finding a leveller as his volley from 18 yards was parried clear.

Try as they might though, Wycombe could not muster the required quality to salvage anything from this game.

In a season where Wycombe have shown plenty of pride, they must now play the final two games with that, and only that on the line starting with the visit of Accrington next Saturday.

Portsmouth: Jones; Davies (Freeman 60), Burgess, Clarke, Stevens, Evans, Hollands, Doyle (C), Naismith (McGurk 76), McNulty (Chaplin 60), Roberts

Subs not used: Murphy; Barton, Smith, Close

Wycombe Wanderers: Allsop; McCarthy, Stewart, Pierre, Jombati, Rowe, Bean, Harriman (Kretzschmar 71), Hayes (C) (Thompson 67) Sellars (Liburd 82)

Subs not used: Siegrist; Jacobson, McGinn, Sellers

Referee: Dean Whitestone

Bookings: Stewart 48 (foul on Evans), Bean (foul on Doyle 80)

Attendance: 16,187 (Away 737)