Portsmouth 0-1 Blackburn
A Roque knockout blow 15 minutes from time, was enough to seal the win for Blackburn.
The home side started the game brightly when Sulley Muntari’s early shot went wide. But it wasn’t a sign of things to come, in what was tight game.
There was a ripple of action 5 minutes before the break, when Pompey went close twice in quick succession.
First Jermain Defoe thrashed a shot into the side-netting after god work on the right wing.
Defoe should have hit the target two minutes later, instead his effort deflected off of the upright.
After the break a corner found Christopher Samba at the far post, but his close range shot was blocked by Papa Bouba Diop.
Perhaps a little against the run of play, Blackburn took the lead when Roque Santa Cruz scored his 21st goal of the season. Santa Cruz looked to have miss controlled a pass from Pedersen, his touch fell to Roberts who played it back to the Paraguayan and he fired low to put Blackburn ahead.
Lassana Diarra had a header saved by Brad Friedel for Portsmouth late on, but it wasn’t enough to get on level terms.
