Source: Telegraph
Blackburn near Premier League safety
Morten Gamst Pedersen, with his first goal in two days short of a year, set Blackburn on their way to a third consecutive home win after a mistake by England goalkeeper David James in the first half. A penalty by Benni McCarthy, taking the South African's league tally into double figures, created a carnival atmosphere around Ewood Park after the break, even though Blackburn still need a point to ensure freakish results do not conspire against them.
Portsmouth, for whom three points would have guaranteed survival, never looked capable of ending their wretched away run, which now extends to six months and 12 games without a win. Even when Mike Riley gave them an 86th-minute penalty after Keith Andrews was adjudged to have handled Kanu's cross, John Utaka blazed the ball over the bar.
Allardyce, whose previous club, Newcastle United, are in grave danger of relegation, hailed his injury-ravaged team's 'absolutely magnificent' efforts since December. 'They've been determined to play in the best league again,' he said. 'We've collected 27 points in my 19 games — that's half a season — which shows how well we've done.' Portsmouth's interim manager, Paul Hart, offered no excuses for 'by far the worst performance since I took over (in February)'.
Blackburn finished the match without a recognised striker, having again used 6ft 5in centre-back Chris Samba as an emergency forward. His attempts to use his physique in aerial duels with Sylvain Distin and Sol Campbell were initially penalised by Mr Riley. There was no whistle, however, when Samba contested Stephen Warnock's cross with Herman Hreidarsson and then pursued the loose ball. James, perhaps distracted by Samba's long leg lunging towards him, reacted as if handling a greasy balloon. The ball ran to Pedersen, who buried a low shot.
Shortly before the hour, Blackburn doubled their advantage. Again they received generous assistance from Portsmouth, Hreidarsson handling a McCarthy pass near the edge of the 18-yard area. McCarthy scored emphatically from the spot, prompting fans who grew up on the title-winning exploits of Alan Shearer to proclaim Blackburn's survival and predict Newcastle's demise in song.
