The 3-3 stalemate at Hillsborough took many by surprise given the Owls’ transfer business during the summer and the 4-0 win they secured against the Blues on the final day of last season just three months ago.
But in truth, Pompey will have been disappointed with just a draw as Danny Cowley’s new-look battling side came within minutes of securing a huge victory on day one of the new term.
The Blues, nevertheless, put down an important marker for the challenge ahead and will no doubt have made others in League One sit up and take notice.
Cowley admitted before a ball was kicked in Yorkshire that he was happy to go into the season under the radar.
Well, that won’t happen now given the result at Hillsborough.
But what do the bookies’ think now about the race for promotion from the division and, in particular, the Blues’ chances of reaching the Championship?
Well, we checked in with SkyBet to see exactly just that with day one of the new campaign now out of the way.
Here's what he discovered.
The Blues, nevertheless, put down an important marker for the challenge ahead and will no doubt have made others in League One sit up and take notice.
![IN: Tom Barkhuizen (Preston, free), Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (Sheff Weds, free), Joe Wildsmith (Sheff Weds, free), David McGoldrick (Sheff Utd, free), Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa, free), James Chester (Stoke, free), Haydon Roberts (Brighton, loan), James Collins (Cardiff, free), Scott Loach (Chesterfield, free), Kwaku Oduroh (Man City, loan), Korey Smith (Swansea, free).
OUT: Tom Lawrence (Rangers, free), Ryan Allsop (Cardiff, free), Isaac Hutchinson (Walsall, free), Malcolm Ebiowei (Crystal Palace, comp fee), Kelle Roos (Aberdeen, free), Louie Watson (Luton, undisc), Ravel Morrison (DC United, free), Colin Kazim-Richards (Fatih Karagümrük, free).](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjZhM2Y2NzhlLWFlZjgtNDM4ZC04NTJmLWI0OGVkYzE2ZGYxYTpjODZmODc3MC00MzNiLTQxNjMtYTE2Yy05YTJmNmI4NzU3YTM=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
21. Derby County - 2/1
IN: Tom Barkhuizen (Preston, free), Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (Sheff Weds, free), Joe Wildsmith (Sheff Weds, free), David McGoldrick (Sheff Utd, free), Conor Hourihane (Aston Villa, free), James Chester (Stoke, free), Haydon Roberts (Brighton, loan), James Collins (Cardiff, free), Scott Loach (Chesterfield, free), Kwaku Oduroh (Man City, loan), Korey Smith (Swansea, free). OUT: Tom Lawrence (Rangers, free), Ryan Allsop (Cardiff, free), Isaac Hutchinson (Walsall, free), Malcolm Ebiowei (Crystal Palace, comp fee), Kelle Roos (Aberdeen, free), Louie Watson (Luton, undisc), Ravel Morrison (DC United, free), Colin Kazim-Richards (Fatih Karagümrük, free). Photo: Mark Thompson
![IN: Ben Thompson (Millwall, free), Harvey Cartwright (Hull, loan), Lucas Bergstrom (Chelsea, loan), Hector Kyprianou (Leyton Orient, undisc), David Ajiboye (Sutton, undisc).
OUT: Mark Beevers (Perth Glory, free), Jorge Grant (Hearts, undisc), Dai Cornell (Preston, free), Christy Pym (Mansfield, loan).](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjQ4ZGQxOGMxLTMxZGQtNGVmNi04MGVhLTYzNmU5YTBkYjNkODplYzdmZGIwNS1hZDA4LTQ2MmMtODM3MC05NDhhYTY3Y2YzMjA=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
22. Peterborough - 15/8
IN: Ben Thompson (Millwall, free), Harvey Cartwright (Hull, loan), Lucas Bergstrom (Chelsea, loan), Hector Kyprianou (Leyton Orient, undisc), David Ajiboye (Sutton, undisc). OUT: Mark Beevers (Perth Glory, free), Jorge Grant (Hearts, undisc), Dai Cornell (Preston, free), Christy Pym (Mansfield, loan). Photo: Alex Davidson
![IN: Freddie Ladapo (Rotherham, free), Dominic Ball (QPR, free), Greg Leigh (Morecambe, free), Tyreece John-Jules (Arsenal, loan), Marcus Harness (Pompey, undisc), Leif Davis (Leeds, undisc).
OUT: Elkan Baggott (Gillingham, loan), Joe PIgott (Pompey, loan), James Norwood (Barnsley, free), Tomas Holy (Carlisle, free), Bailey Clements (Chesterfield, free), Brett McGavin (Torquay, free).](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmExMjU5MmE0LWJiMTgtNDcyNy05YjllLTE2NzMzYTMxZWZhMzo2NDBiMzU4Ny1lMDI3LTQ3ODAtYjFkYy1lNTgxMjFjYjAzNDM=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
23. Ipswich Town - 13/8
IN: Freddie Ladapo (Rotherham, free), Dominic Ball (QPR, free), Greg Leigh (Morecambe, free), Tyreece John-Jules (Arsenal, loan), Marcus Harness (Pompey, undisc), Leif Davis (Leeds, undisc). OUT: Elkan Baggott (Gillingham, loan), Joe PIgott (Pompey, loan), James Norwood (Barnsley, free), Tomas Holy (Carlisle, free), Bailey Clements (Chesterfield, free), Brett McGavin (Torquay, free). Photo: Stephen Pond
![IN: Ben Heneghan (AFC Wimbledon, free), David Stockdale (Wycombe, free), Will Vaulks (Cardiff, free), Michael Smith (Rotherham, free), Michael Ihiekwe (Rotherham, free), Akin Famewo (Norwich, undisc), Reece James (Blackpool, loan), Tyreeq Bakinson (Bristol City, undisc).
OUT: Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (Derby, free), Joe Wildsmith (Derby, free), Massimo Luongo (unattached, free), Ciaran Brennan (Swindon, loan), Chey Dunkley (Shrewsbury, free).](https://www.portsmouth.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjZkNDU5OTg1LWY5MjgtNDMyNy1hMDY2LWQ5MjUzYmMxYjRkMDpkZjBiY2NiYi04NDExLTQzZmEtOWVkNC05NmM0MGE3Mzk0N2U=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
24. Sheffield Wednesday - 11/10
IN: Ben Heneghan (AFC Wimbledon, free), David Stockdale (Wycombe, free), Will Vaulks (Cardiff, free), Michael Smith (Rotherham, free), Michael Ihiekwe (Rotherham, free), Akin Famewo (Norwich, undisc), Reece James (Blackpool, loan), Tyreeq Bakinson (Bristol City, undisc). OUT: Nathaniel Mendez-Laing (Derby, free), Joe Wildsmith (Derby, free), Massimo Luongo (unattached, free), Ciaran Brennan (Swindon, loan), Chey Dunkley (Shrewsbury, free). Photo: George Wood