Blackburn Rovers 3-1 Portsmouth: Second Half Comeback Sinks Pompey

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Sam Allardyce - Blackburn Rovers (PA)

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Blackburn Rovers have stretched their winning home run to four as they came from behind to see off Portsmouth at Ewood Park.

Sam Allardyce can take a lot of credit for the comeback as his double substitution at half time sparked life into his side after a disappointing first half display during which a Jamie O’Hara strike gave Pompey the lead.

The defeat leaves Portsmouth propping up the Premier League table and Paul Hart will be concerned about his side’s defensive performance after two Blackburn goals came from set-pieces.  

Blackburn had dominated the opening exchanges with the creative David Dunn pulling the strings in midfield but Pompey took a shock lead with one of their first ventures into Rovers territory.

Jamie O’Hara, on loan from Tottenham, picked the ball up from 30 yards, and with few options available to him, he let fly with a bullet of a left foot strike which flew past a despairing Paul Robinson in the Blackburn goal. It was a real moment of brilliance from O’Hara who has impressed for Pompey so far this term.

The goal seemed to spark Rovers into life as they started to up the pace and put Portsmouth under stiff pressure. Despite that, Portsmouth seemed comfortable dealing with the direct approach. David James was called upon on a couple occasions, but nothing was ever dangerous enough to worry the England international. 

Dunn wasted a good opportunity from a set piece before former Spurs teammates O’Hara and Pascal Chimbonda clashed in an ugly incident. O’Hara tussled with Chimbonda and a punch was thrown in the direction of the Pompey midfielder which wouldn’t have been out of place in tonight’s WBA Heavyweight title clash in Germany. The pair were both booked when Chimbonda really should have seen red.

Allardyce rang the changes at half time with a double substitution and it was one of those substitutes, Jason Roberts, who drew Blackburn level. A Dunn corner was headed back into the danger zone by Ryan Nelson and Roberts was there to stab the ball home from close range.

The equalizer seemed to turn the game up a notch, which made for entertaining viewing. The game ebbed and flowed from end to end and the home crowd made their presence felt as Blackburn went close with the lively Roberts forcing a low save from James. Portsmouth still looked dangerous going forward, with another O’Hara long range effort that this time just flew past the post.

Despite Portsmouth pressure, Blackburn completed the comeback in the 73^rd minute from another Dunn corner. This time the ball was floated in and it was the skipper Nelson who, once again, beat his man and powered the ball into the back of the net to give Rovers the lead.

Blackburn sealed the win late on with a fantastic move that was made by one of the subs, Benni McCarthy, and finished by the other, Roberts. McCarthy broke down the wing and crossed for Roberts to finish what was a flowing move and seal the points for Rovers. Allardyce would have been delighted with the impact of his strikers and they both must be pushing for a starting place in Blackburn's next game.

Lewis Jones, Goal.com UK