Dickov seals points as red-hot Rovers make it three in-a-row

Blackburn 2 Portsmouth 1

Pompey remain entrenched in the bottom three after suffering a fifth straight away defeat.

Redknapp’s men again fell short on their travels despite making an explosive start after just 150 seconds as Matthew Taylor beat Brad Friedel with a stunning left-foot free-kick from 25 yards.

But it was a case of whatever you can do, so can we, as Morten Gamst Pedersen levelled in the ninth minute following Andy O’Brien’s foul from behind on Paul Dickov.

The Norway winger stepped up to curl home with a 21-yard left-foot strike beyond Sander Westerveld.

Steven Reid, after his man-of-the-match performance and wonder goal against Wigan, was adopting something of a shoot-on-sight policy, and it paid dividends again six minutes from the interval.

The Republic of Ireland midfielder unleashed another venomous strike from 22 yards that Westerveld could only parry as it took an awkward bounce in front of the Dutchman.

An alert Paul Dickov needed no second invitation to pounce on the rebound, and with the ball sitting up kindly, the Scot headed home.

Blackburn should certainly have headed into the break with a two-goal stranglehold on the game when Dickov sprang free in the area, only to fire a tame shot into the welcoming arms of Westerveld.

The Pompey strikers had been non-existent in the first half, forcing Redknapp into a half-time change, with Svetoslav Todorov replacing the ineffective Dario Silva.

But instead of creating chances, the visitors continued to wrack up yellow cards, with captain Dejan Stefanovic and Andy Griffin having their names taken by a busy Mike Dean.

They sandwiched a curling free-kick from Savage who was inches wide from making the game safe after Pedersen had been fouled by Brian Priske.

Revenge followed in the 63rd minute when Pedersen left his foot in on the Dane’s right knee, resulting in another booking, albeit the first for Rovers.

At least Redknapp witnessed his side finish the stronger and but for a lack of composure they would have taken a point.

However, Lomano Lualua, Taylor and substitute Azar Karadas all missed chances as Rovers just held on to make it three wins out of three over the festive period.

BLACKBURN: Friedel, Neill, Khizanishvili, Nelsen, Matteo, Bentley (Emerton 66), Savage, Reid, Pedersen, Kuqi (Tugay 90), Dickov (Bellamy 66).

PORTSMOUTH: Westerveld, Priske, O’Brien, Stefanovic, Griffin, O’Neil, Diao, Cisse (Robert 76), Taylor (Karadas 82), LuaLua, Silva (Todorov 45).

Referee: M Dean (Wirral).