The striker, on loan from Tottenham Hotspur, scored his 10th goal of the season to put Oxford ahead 2-1 in the 81st minute at Fratton Park, but an Andre Dozzell equaliser snatched two points from the U’s grasp with three minutes to go.

United should have beaten Hull City in their last match after creating good chances but only managed a draw, and it was only four games ago that the Yellows forfeited a win to draw with Charlton Athletic in similar circumstances.

“It’s a very tough place to come so I think if you offer us a draw before the game, of course we want to win the game, but I think we’ll take it,” said a dejected Lankshear after the game on Easter Monday.

“Just the way the game went with the sending off and the chances we had, I thought we played pretty well.

Jamie Donley carries the ball for Oxford United (Image: Oxford United)

“I also feel like, you know, why it hurts so much is for me, I think there’s just been one too many games this season where that’s happened. And it’s very disappointing.

“I think it’s just one too many games.

“That’s kind of been the story of our season. We’ve just sort of come up short in a lot of the games.

“But we’ve got to dust ourselves off and keep positive and go into the last five games.

“Because at the end of the day, we didn’t lose. And I think that’s the main thing. We’ve still got a point on the board.”

The 20-year-old’s header saw him reach double figures for goals in all competitions this season.

Video thoughts after the crazy early kick-off between #OxfordUnited and #Pompey… 💭

Chatting about the red card decisions, dropping points, conceding early, and looking ahead 👀#oufc 🟡 pic.twitter.com/0frvioI4qB

— malachi (@MalachiObrey) April 6, 2026

“Hopefully I can get a few more,” Lankshear continued.

“I think I’m going to need a few more if we’re going to stay up.

“I’m going to keep pushing and keep going and keep scoring goals. Because that’s my passion. That’s what I’m here to do.

“I’m really happy that I could score today. And just disappointing that it wasn’t the winning goal.”

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Teammate Brodie Spencer scored his first goal for the club, with Lankshear revealing he had a sense that the Northern Irishman’s moment would come against Pompey.

“I’m buzzing for Brodie.

“I know that he’s been really working hard to score his first goal for Oxford. And I think he’s been a brilliant player for us this season.

“I did actually tell him yesterday, although he doesn’t remember it apparently, I did say that he was going to score, I felt like he was going to score.

“I’m really happy for him”

The U’s cancelled out Keshi Anderson’s early opener with Brodie Spencer’s first goal for the club before going ahead through Will Lankshear with nine minutes left.

Andre Dozzell then found a late equaliser to rescue a point for ten-man Pompey who were without Connor Ogilvie who saw red in the first half.

“We could have done, yes, absolutely,” the Yellows boss replied when asked if his side should have won the match.

“We’ve worked so incredibly hard to get our nose in front, to get ahead in the game against really tough opposition in such an incredible atmosphere.

“We feel terribly disappointed that we’re not walking away with all three points there.”

It was another fixture where Oxford saw points evade them, with the recent draw with Charlton Athletic also seeing them concede in the dying embers.

Jamie Donley carries the ball for Oxford United (Image: Oxford United)

“The Charlton goal and today, are both second phases of [set pieces]. In those moments, you can go over them and over them, but every situation in that is different.

“It’s messy, there are players moving around and it’s about making sure you get attached to someone and in the box.

“We’ve been put in the box today, there’s one player free and the ball’s dropped to him and he’s stuck it away.

Cameron Brannagan runs away with the ball for Oxford United (Image: Oxford United)

“So, we need to make sure we improve on that.”

The red card in the first half angered the home fans, creating an even more feisty atmosphere at Fratton Park, with some items even being thrown after the dismissal.

“I was discussing it with the crowd around me who wanted to give me their opinions and they were a little bit more accepting of it after half-time when they’d seen it back,” revealed Bloomfield.

“I’ve not seen it back yet so I probably should wait before I comment.

“Stan’s dribbling the ball, gets scythed down and it’s all his fault that the player got sent off,” the U’s boss remarked sarcastically.

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Brodie Spencer celebrates scoring his first Oxford United goal against Portsmouth (Image: Oxford United)

“So, he’s getting stuff thrown at him (by the crowd).

“Obviously you don’t want to see those kinds of situations. But considering the circumstances, I think it’s always going to be that way inclined.”

“It’s a fantastic place, an incredible atmosphere.”

Will Lankshear celebrates putting Oxford United ahead against Portsmouth (Image: Oxford United)

Bloomfield also offered his two cents on the challenge which could have seen Spencer shown a second yellow card.

“From my opinion, I think it was a very clever play from the Portsmouth player.

“He’s felt Brodie trying to get back [and] cut across him, tried to get contact and go down, which is obviously an intelligent play.

“So I haven’t seen it back yet and I don’t know what kind of contact there was, if any.”