Blackburn continue winning run

Blackburn 2 Portsmouth 1

Blackburn chalked up their third successive Premiership victory for the first time in 20 months to leave Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp praying for the latest Russian revolution to swiftly make its mark.

Pompey remain entrenched in the bottom three after suffering a fifth straight away defeat in which they have now conceded a miserable 15 goals.

Redknapp is acutely aware of his side’s glaring deficiencies in the wake of his Fratton Park return last month, with squad strengthening in the current transfer window desperately needed.

Whether the millions of Alexandre Gaydamak, the son of a Russian billionaire, will come to his rescue this month remains to be seen.

Chairman Milan Mandaric has agreed a deal ‘in principle’ that will see Gaydamak become an “equal partner” in the south-coast club.

However, the move is subject to the usual Football Association checks with regard to incoming directors who are required to pass ‘the fit and proper person test.’ If Gaydamak is deemed as such, his financial input could see Redknapp make a significant raid in the market as his team again fell short on their travels.

That was 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 for his fourth goal of the season, and his first since October 29.

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, who scored an acutely-angled volley against Wigan in the 3-0 win on Saturday, stepped up to curl home his seventh this term with a 21-yard left-foot strike beyond Sander Westerveld.

Bookings followed for Redknapp’s two Senegal internationals, although neither are heading to the African Nations Cup.

Salif Diao first kicked Robbie Savage from behind in the 12th minute and then breathed a sigh of relief soon after when he felled midfielder David Bentley with a high tackle.

Crucially for Diao, referee Mike Dean adjudged he initially won the ball before catching a clearly-hurt Bentley on the knee.

Aliou Cisse followed his compatriot into the book in the 33rd minute for scything down the unfortunate Bentley who was causing problems on the right wing.

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 Dickov needed no second invitation to pounce on the rebound, and with the ball sitting up kindly, the Scot headed home his seventh goal this season from seven yards.

Reid, seemingly determined to get on the scoresheet again, then fired another powerful rising drive over the bar from just outside the area in injury time.

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 Dean before the hour.

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.