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"It's about pride and spirit," the Pompey boss said. "It's about showing that football is stronger than anything; any administration, any court, any decision of the Premier League.
"Everything that happened recently has been emotional. I'm proud of this because football is about passion and emotion, it's not about money.
"These fans are wonderful and the city is amazing. We don't deserve what's happened. But we need to show on the pitch what we can do despite of everything, and the players have been amazing, I'm very proud of them. We're still playing good football, better than the other teams at the bottom.
"I am proud of the players that despite everything they scored two goals, played good football and won the game. First we show our pride and spirit, and second we will try to play positive football."
Brian Laws had gone into the game confident we could get the win to take us out of the bottom three, but it was not to be and we still sit next to bottom after a third home defeat of the season.
"Results are always difficult to take when you lose, a bit more so when it's your own fault," Laws said. "If the opposition do something wonderful you have to hold your hand up, but there's no beating around the bush, we were our own worst enemies.
"The skipper has made two rash decisions today and they have been very costly. You can't hide on the pitch and Clarke hasn't. He's devastated in the dressing room and he's apologised to the lads. It's something I'm sure he won't do again, but it cost us today."
Laws admitted we allowed Portsmouth midfielder Jamie O'Hara too much room in the first half but added: "We tightened that up in the second half and looked the more likely to win.
"Our let off was the penalty save. That gave everyone a lift and we went down the other end and Fletch had a great chance to put us 2-1 up. That happens and we go on and win the game.
"At one each, I thought there was only one team going to win it and that was us. I certainly wasn't expecting that, and you certainly couldn't script it. We are devastated to have handed the points over and as a manager you can't legislate for that."
Laws continued: "The fans showed at the end that they were very disappointed and I fully understand that. They will be because this was a game we felt we should win. It was not a must win game because there are other games to come, but it was a must not lose because each point you gain in the Premier League is a big one and the fans saw today that we should have got that. To lose in such a manner disappoints everyone.
"I believe we have enough to survive. There wasn't a great divide between those two sides today and yet we are competing against sides with four, five times our salary. We are competing well enough, but we won't be good enough if we keep doing that.
"I've learned a few things today, but I am also taking a lot of positives from the game. Our front lads were good and there was a great goal and performance from Martin Paterson.
"The devastating thing is we have lost the game, but if we maintain the level of effort and commitment we have been showing, particularly in the second half, I will be happy."
