Soccer: Blackburn close in on promotion

Blackburn midfielder David Dunn admitted Portsmouth had made life difficult for his team-mates before they sealed a 3-1 First Division victory at Ewood Park.

Dunn notched his 18th goal of the season to give Rovers the lead with only 11 minutes remaining of a tough battle against struggling Pompey.

He said: ‘‘They made it very hard for us. They are at the bottom and they want to stay up. I am just glad we got three points. It makes it a lot easier for us now.’’

Rovers are now just one win away from securing a return to the Premiership thanks to their second-half comeback.

Mike Panopoulos had given Graeme Souness’ men a fright with an 11th-minute strike and that held until the 61st minute.

But Scott Hiley’s own goal gave Blackburn the lifeline they needed and they secured the victory with Dunn’s goal and a late third from Marcus Bent.

Souness claimed the result had never been in doubt and explained to Sky Sports: ‘‘It was one of those games you know you’re going to win.

‘‘I just felt today if we kept knocking at the door we would eventually get our reward. Once we got the equaliser we always felt we would get another one. I’m really happy for them.’’