Portsmouth 0 - 1 Blackburn Rovers

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Sunday Apr 27 2008 01:30

Roque Santa Cruz scored for the sixth time in seven games as Blackburn Rovers condemned FA Cup finalists Portsmouth to only their third home league defeat of the season.

Santa Cruz struck with 16 minutes remaining to settle a dour game which all but ended Pompey's faint hopes of snatching fifth place.

Portsmouth were rocked when goalkeeper David James was ruled out for the first time in 167 Premier League matches after suffering a torn calf.

Stand in keeper Jamie Ashdown almost endured a nightmare opening to his first league appearance in two years when he flapped at Santa Cruz's cross after just 11 minutes.

Ashdown was let off the hook when Morten Gamst Pedersen failed to get a proper connection on his header and nodded into the stands.

It took until the final six minutes of the first half for the match to spark into life, with both teams going close to opening the scoring in quick succession.

First Jermain Defoe thrashed a shot into the side-netting after a powerful solo run down the right wing.

Defoe was unlucky not to hit the target two minutes later when his low right-foot shot shaved Brad Friedel's upright after clever interplay between Nwankwo Kanu and John Utaka.

Ashdown was forced into his first meaningful save off the game soon after when he stood firm to palm away former Portsmouth loan striker Jason Roberts' 16-yard piledriver.

Portsmouth suffered another injury blow during the interval when Utaka limped off with a hamstring strain to be replaced by Croatia midfielder Niko Kranjcar.

Ashdown produced a superb fingertip save to deny Blackburn captain Ryan Nelsen a rare goal 13 minutes after the restart.David Bentley dribbled the ball along Pompey's byline before crossing for the onrushing Nelson, whose diving header was brilliantly turned wide by Ashdown.

But Santa Cruz silenced the home fans by firing Blackburn in front with the 17th goal of his maiden Premier League season.

Ashdown punched the ball straight to Pedersen who picked out Santa Cruz on the edge of the penalty area and the Paraguayan played a neat one-two with strike-partner Roberts before calmly slotting past Ashdown from eight yards.

Live Commentary

90
Johnson sets the ball on the edge of the box but fails to connect properly with it on his left foot and does not trouble Friedel.

90
FULL TIME: Mike Riley brings the game to a close. Portsmouth did not look themselves and, 20 days from the FA Cup Final, maybe looked like a side with other things on their minds. Rovers deserved their win after a fine second-half performance.

90
Kranjcar's free-kick finds the head of Diarra in the box and his strong header forces a corner out of Friedel.

90
Mark Hughes tries to run the clock down with a late substitution: David Dunn for Jason Roberts.

90
Warnock trips Kranjcar when running at goal and earns himself a yellow card.

89
Campbell picks up a late booking for a foul on Roberts.

88
Nelsen fizzes the ball into the feet of Fridel and the keeper makes a mess of the situation by almost gifting the ball to the on-rushing Baros, but at the last moment manages to nick the ball away from the striker.

87
Johnson swings a cross into the box from deep but fails to find a team-mate and the ball bounces behind for a goal-kick.

86
The experienced Dutch international Andre Ooijer takes the place of Samba for the remainder of the game.

84
Samba is left in agony after a 50-50 challenge with Kranjcar and limps off the field to receive treatment, though it doesn't look like he will be fit to continue.

83
Warnock lays the ball off for Brett Emerton on the edge of the box but his shot is blocked by a Pompey defender.

82
Johnson puts a low cross towards the front post and Defoe hits it first time but sends the ball over the bar.

81
Blackburn win three consecutive corners but all three fail to cause any real threat in the Portsmouth penalty area.

79
The ball is played into the feet of Defoe who goes down under the challenge of Nelsen and Mike Riley waves away his protests for a penalty.

77
Sulley Muntari makes way for Milan Baros.

75
Blackburn have deserved the goal and have looked much better after changing system. Harry Redknapp looks as though he is about to look to his substitutes bench to get some further inspiration on the pitch.

73
PORTSMOUTH 0 - 1 BLACKBURN: ROQUE SANTA CRUZ grabs his 21st goal of the season, sliding the ball past Ashdown after playing a neat one-two with Roberts.

73
Kranjcar hits a decent looking shot from 25-yards but it is straight down the throat of Friedel.

71
Kranjcar flashes the ball across the face of goal and Muntari gets on the end of it, but he cannot connect properly and directs the ball wide of the target from 6-yards.

70
Defoe is cautioned for kicking the ball away in frustration after being caught offside.

69
Pedersen strikes a low, long-range free kick that skids across the surface but does not cause Ashdown too many problems.

69
Rovers have reverted to a more familiar formation in this second-half with both Roberts and Santa Cruz up-front, and they seem a lot more comfortable on the ball.

68
Bentley curls an inviting cross into the danger area but Distin is on hand to head the ball clear.

66
Samba almost connects with Bentley's corner and Papa Bouba Diop has to put in a vital block to prevent the opportunity.

66
Bentley looks for Santa Cruz at the far post and Campbell is forced to head the ball behind for a corner.

64
Muntari lays the ball off for Diarra whose fierce shot from 25-yards sails over the crossbar.

63
Kanu is picked out in the box again but fails to work Friedel from the opportunity.

61
Defoe curls an inviting cross into the box and Kanu beats Nelsen to the ball, but his glancing header is wide of the mark.

60
Roberts gets behind Distin and gets a shot away from inside the box, but it lacks the desired pace and it is an easy save for Ashdown.

58
There is a coming together on the edge of the box between Campbell and Roberts and the Rovers striker appeals for a penalty, but Mike Riley waves play on.

56
Bentley gets the ball back again on the flank and picks out Nelsen in the box and his header forces a fine save out of Fridel to turn it around the post.

56
Bentley's corner finds Santa Cruz at the near post. He lets it run and the ball finds its way to Samba whose shot is blocked by Distin.

55
Muntari cuts inside from the left flank and strikes a strong right-footed shot that sails into the stand behind the goal.

54
Distin brings the ball down on the edge of the box and gets a shot away, but is is blocked by a Rovers defender.

53
The game is struggling to find top gear at the moment and is very stop-start with Mike Riley giving out lots of free-kicks.

51
Blackburn seem to have some increased ambition after half-time and are working hard to try and break the Portsmouth back-line.

49
Santa Cruz floats a cross into the box and Ryan Nelsen leaps to connect with the ball, but sends his header over the bar.

48
Pedersen's free-kick finds Santa Cruz at the far post. The Paraguayan tries to cushion the ball down for a team-mate but Pompey clear their lines.

46
Warnock tries to pick out Bentley with a chipped pass, but the ball skids away from the midfielder and behind for a goal-kick.

45
It is John Utaka who does not return for the second-half after picking up a slight knock, and Niko Kranjcar takes his place on the right flank.

45
The second-half is underway and Harry Redknapp has made a change to his side.

45
HALF TIME: Portsmouth have perhaps shaded the first-half with Defoe coming close on a few occasions, but there is still no breakthrough at Fratton Park and both sides have it all to play for after the interval.

43
Bentley gets on the wrong side of Johnson and tries to lob the ball into the box but puts it behind for a goal-kick.

41
Steven Reid picks up the first booking of the game after a rash challenge on Defoe.

41
Rovers counter attack and Roberts strikes a shot from 20-yards, forcing a decent save out of Ashdown.

40
Defoe plays a one-two with Utaka inside the box and gets a shot away, but drags it inches wide of the far post.

38
Defoe cuts inside from the right flank and hits a left-footed shot from 20-yards that fizzes past the near post.

36
Bentley is caught by an accidental elbow from Diarra and has to receive treatment, though it seems he will be okay to continue.

34
Johnson's curling pass finds Defoe behind the Rovers defence. He hammers the ball past Fridel but turns around to see the linesman's flag raised, though it was an extremely close call.

33
Pedersen bursts into the box and gets to the byline before trying to find Roberts with a cross, but it sails straight into the arms of Ashdown.

32
Neither Defoe or Roberts have had much to thrive on so far and seem to be struggling to find the ball in attacking positions.

30
Glen Johnson sees Friedel of his line and hits a free-kick goal-wards from inside his own half, but misses the target.

29
Pedersen fizzes a set-piece into the mixer but it is headed clear by Samba at the near post.

27
The ball drops to Samba on the edge of the Portsmouth box but his low shot is blocked by a Pompey defender.

26
Tempers flare as Defoe comes in late on Johann Vogel, but Mike Riley handles the situation well and keeps the cards in his pocket.

24
Roberts has had a difficult time so far against the two strong centre-halves, and is caught offside again after a through ball from Bentley.

21
Pedersen goes down after a challenge on Johnson and is moving a little gingerly, but looks as though he may be able to run it off.

19
The corner is headed clear only as far as Diarra, but a Blackburn player gets a strong challenge in to stop the midfielder getting a shot away.

18
Defoe chips the ball over the Rovers defence and Kanu chases it, forcing a corner out of Samba.

16
Utaka gets to the byline and whips a cross into the danger area for Defoe, but Christopher Samba throws himself at it and nods the ball behind for a corner.

15
Jermain Defoe gets onto the end of a long ball and is behind the Rovers defence, but is pulled back for a dubious offside decision.

14
Stephen Warnock's long free-kick catches Distin off guard and Santa Cruz tries to get on the end of it, but the ball is just too far ahead of him and runs behind for a goal-kick.

12
Blackburn are beginning to find their feet after a quiet start and are passing the ball around well.

10
Roque Santa Cruz's deflected cross loops onto the edge of the six-yard box and Pedersen beats Ashdown to the ball, but his header is booted clear by Diarra.

9
Sulley Muntari cuts inside from the left flank before striking a strong right-footed shot but fails to work Friedel.

6
Jamie Ashdown's last Premiership appearance for Pompey was in a 5-0 defeat to Birmingham several years ago, and will be grateful for some early handling as he gathers a Pedersen cross.

5
Lauren tries to find Kanu in the box with an out-swinging cross, but Brad Friedel is quick off his line and plucks the ball out of the air.

4
Portsmouth are playing some neat, short passing in the early stages. Kanu tries to slide a pass through to John Utaka in the danger area but a Blackburn defender intercepts it.

3
Jason Roberts, who is playing up-front on his own today, tries to latch onto a Morten Gamst Pedersen header inside the box but is pulled back for offside.

1
Portsmouth win an early corner and Lassana Diarra picks out Sylvain Distin, but his header is way off target.

0
The news that David James has a calf injury has caused some talking points around Fratton Park, with the home fans wondering whether or not the England international will be back for the FA Cup final.

0
Referee Mike Riley gets the game underway with the home side kicking-off.

0
BLACKBURN STARTING XI: Friedel, Emerton, Nelsen, Samba, Warnock, Bentley, Reid, Vogel, Pedersen, Santa Cruz, Roberts. SUBS: Brown, Ooijer, Kerimoglu, Dunn, Derbyshire.

0
PORTSMOUTH STARTING XI: Ashdown, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Lauren, Utaka, Diop, Diarra, Muntari, Defoe, Kanu. SUBS: Begovic, Aubey, Baros, Kranjcar, Davis

0
Blackburn have no new injury worries and so boss Mark Hughes names an unchanged side from the one that drew against Manchester United last week.

0
David James is not in the side for Portsmouth today, with Jamie Ashdown starting in goal. Harry Redknapp decides to have a change in system after the 3-1 defeat at Eastlands, recalling Glen Johnson and Kanu to the starting line-up.

Statistics

Portsmouth

Shots on target	6
Shots off target	9
Shots off bar/post	0
Fouls	20
Offsides	5
Corners	8

Blackburn Rovers

Shots on target	9
Shots off target	3
Shots off bar/post	0
Fouls	12
Offsides	5
Corners	7

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