Pedersen strikes as Blackburn see off Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH tumbled to their first home defeat since March and out of the Carling Cup as goals by Benni McCarthy and Morten Gamst Pedersen earned Blackburn a place in the quarter-finals.

McCarthy’s simple tap-in came on 12 minutes and reflected Blackburn’s superiority, but Pompey fought back after half time when Pedersen capitalised on an error by Pedro Mendes with 14 minutes left.

Kanu’s consolation goal came too late to matter and home fans were left ruing a miserable miss by fellow substitute David Nugent who missed a sitter 10 minutes after the break.