There were only three survivors from Sunday's FA Cup semi-final victory over Tottenham as Grant handed debuts to 20-year-olds Joel Ward and Matt Ritchie and named teenagers Lenny Sowah and Marlon Pack on the bench.

But despite the alterations Pompey managed to keep Wigan at bay as goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown made a number of saves, although he was rarely seriously troubled.

Grant said he had no option but to pick the squad he had done and did not expect any repercussions from the Premier League.

"The Premier League need not say anything about Portsmouth," he said.

"They need to give us an award because we are playing as we play with a lot of injuries - it is not ideal for us.

"But what can I do, we have many players who were injured so we used some players from the academy and I was very pleased with them.

"We needed to do it because we have a very small squad. Hassan Yebda was on the bench but even he was not fit and therefore he didn't play.

"We didn't even have a reserve goalkeeper on the bench but Ashdown did very well.

"In the last three games we've had clean sheets and he has played in two of them."

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez cautiously welcomed a point despite dominating for most of the game at the DW Stadium.

The draw in front of 14,166 fans - the lowest Barclays Premier League crowd of the season - lifted Wigan up to 16th but they are only five points ahead of third-bottom Burnley with remaining matches against Arsenal, West Ham, Hull and Chelsea.

"It was one of those tricky performances," said the Spaniard.

"I knew when I saw the line-up Portsmouth had to play in a different way and they reacted well in adversity.

"They were very organised and got players behind the ball. The disappointing thing is we had a lot of possession and couldn't take advantage.

"Normally we find the right decision or composure in the last third of the pitch but tonight probably the anxiety and desire to get three points cost us.

"You get into a game where you start playing with your heart and not your head and we didn't use the quality we have got to work the goalkeeper more.

"We are all disappointed because we couldn't break a team down.

"But on the other hand I've seen it time after time when a team goes down the other end and scores."

A chorus of boos rang out both at the interval and full-time but Martinez said he sympathised with the fans.

"I understand the supporters because we are all frustrated and disappointed," he added.