Rovers Win Third In A Row

After an impressive victory at Wigan on New Years Eve you could have forgiven us fans for turning up to Ewood on Monday still feeling a bit worse for wear. However, two first half goals from Morten Gamst Pedersen and Paul Dickov insured that there was no hangover from an impressive end to 2005, which saw Rovers take maximum points over the festive period.

The nine points from nine has moved the blue and white army up into eight in the league. A position which might have been better had it not been for the postponed Sunderland game. While Portsmouth hadn?t taken maximum points from the Christmas period, they came to Ewood with their position and form much improved following Harry Redknapps? return.

They started brightly and were ahead on three minutes after Mathew Taylor curled in a 25 yard free-kick following a dubious handball decision against Ryan Nelson. The New Zealander had caused for complaints but thankfully kept quiet. Rovers let the football do the talking and Perdersen levelled things up on nine minutes. He curled in a free kick of his own after Dickov had been fouled by Andy O?Brien.

Blackburn then pilled on the pressure but Portsmouth defended in numbers and reduced Rovers to long range efforts. However Steven Reid, as he proved at Wigan is known to strike from distance and on 38 minutes he unleashed another drive which was to hot for Westerveld to handle. Paul Dickov was the quickest to react and headed the rebound into the back of the net.

Blackburn then went in search of a third before the interval. On 45 minutes Reid again received the ball on the edge of the area and after hearing the cry of “shoot” he aimed for the top corner but found the crowd.

The second half didn?t live up to the first as Portsmouth began to show a bit more resolve. Lualua looked to have put the visitors back on level terms on 65 minutes after back heeling in a Gary O?Niel shot but was correctly ruled offside. Then Brad Friedel was called upon to produce a top class save, diving low to his left to stop a 30 yard drive from Taylor. However, despite more pressure in the closing stages Friedel wasn?t severely tested again and Rovers hung on for the points.