Blackburn Rovers 1 - 2 Portsmouth

Blackburn 1-2 Portsmouth

Updated: March 27, 2004, 12:14 PM ET

Aiyegbeni Yakubu struck a late winner to secure Portsmouth's first away victory in the Premiership and drag Blackburn back down into the relegation battle.

The Nigerian's goal was just reward in a drab match in which he had been a beacon of light in the 2-1 success, and a second consecutive victory gives Pompey renewed hope of avoiding the drop in the first season in the Premiership.

• Souness blasts 'unacceptable' performance

Yakubu had also won the free-kick that led to Teddy Sheringham opening the scoring before Tugay equalised with a deflected effort.

As for Blackburn, the defeat was greeted by a crescendo of boos and their dreadful home form means there will be an uncomfortable end of the season for manager Graeme Souness.

This was not a match for the purist but neither one for the thrill-seeker. There was a down-beat atmosphere about the match - perhaps due to both sides' terror of defeat -and the game was only enlivened by some tremendous support from the impressive numbers of travelling fans.

Souness, looking incongruous in a suit, one shoe and one trainer due a painful foot problem, appeared a worried man from the start and with just cause.

Portsmouth built the first attack of note, however, when Matthew Taylor's raid into the Blackburn penalty area saw him bypass Brad Friedel but Craig Short arrived to clear from inside the six-yard box.

Jon Stead swept a volley sky-high as Rovers attempted to respond and then the striker did well to prod a shot on target after Linvoy Primus had missed a clearance but could not trouble Shaka Hislop in the Portsmouth goal.

Then came the opener from Sheringham. Yakubu won a free-kick against Andy Todd in a dangerous position for the visitors 25 yards from goal and his strike partner made Blackburn pay dearly for the foul.

The veteran striker curled a low shot around the wall and in off the post to the joy of the substantial number of travelling fans - it was only the seventh away goal they had witnessed their side score in the Premiership.

Taylor then struck a glorious rising drive on the run after a peach of a ball by Yakubu only to see it soar past the angle.

Stead should have levelled after being out clean through by Andy Cole but Hislop blocked well and the ricocheted bobbled wide.

Friedel, who must have been disappointed with the Pompey goal, made amends when Steve Stone, slipped through by Yakubu, fired towards the corner only for the American to save with his leg.

Portsmouth continued to look threatening, using the width of the pitch well, so it was something of a surprise when Tugay equalised in the 37th minute.

Andresen had won a corner after his instinctive shot on the turn had come off Arjan de Zeeuw's head, and from the flag-kick Brett Emerton found Tugay lurking unmarked 30 yards out.

The Turkey midfielder struck a tremendous low drive but it still needed a touch of fortune - deflecting towards Taylor in the six-yard box who fell in a tangle with the ball going between his legs and across the line.

Portsmouth's impressive combination of passes ended with Stone crossing for Yakubu but the Nigerian could only flick a header over the crossbar.

Cole then ended the half on an upbeat note heading powerfully but straight at Hislop.

Rovers looked more determined in the second period but were unable to find a finish, summed up when Emerton produced a telling cross to the far-post where Flitcroft met it but headed down and wide when he should at least have hit the target.

Cole almost surprised Pompey when he whipped a shot across the goalmouth then Sheringham missed by the same narrow margin following Alexei Smertin's weaving run.

Yakubu made his presence felt again with a delightful pass towards Sheringham, who was running across goal, but Friedel came swooping out and took ball and man at the same time.

The Nigerian then threatened again, cutting inside before unleashing a fierce strike that Friedel just managed to palm around the post, then Hislop beat away an attempt of similar venom from Rovers full-back Michael Gray.

Eight minutes from time Yakubu grabbed the goal his display had deserved. Lomana Lua-Lua had looked problematic for Blackburn ever since his introduction as a 71st-minute substitute for Sheringham and it was his run that led to the goal.

Lucas Neill's challenge on the edge of the area looked to have ended the danger but the ball ran only to Yakubu who calmly bent it past Friedel with an excellent finish.

Cole should have equalised almost straight away when Emerton's corner landed at his feet but he mis-hit his shot badly.

Souness blasts 'unacceptable' performance

Graeme Souness condemned his players for an 'unacceptable' performance which saw Blackburn booed off the pitch after going down to defeat at home to Portsmouth.

Souness said: 'It was very disappointing. We looked nervous and that is something that although is understandable is not really acceptable.

'I can understand the fans' reaction - we have not treated them to any excitement this year. It was a big day for the team and we have let the fans down.

'The players are very low, they have not performed and we had great expectations following our win at Aston Villa last week.'

Souness added: 'The free-kick gave them a great lift - I don't think our wall was solid. We got a fortunate equaliser but really we were not creative enough to cause them problems.

'They played with four centre-halves in defence and we played right into their hands by hitting too many long balls.'

Pompey boss Harry Redknapp refused to get carried away by the victory - their second in six days.

Redknapp said: 'We needed that win - you do start to think whether it's ever going to come and we have had some bad luck.

'We have played okay away from home all season but have not scored and today we managed to stick a couple away - that made all the difference and six points this week has been a terrific total.

'The win has closed it up a bit at the bottom of the table. We have five home games and three away games left so we have to make sure we get the points we need.'

The Portsmouth boss believes Lomana LuaLua's appearance as a 71st-minute substitute changed the course of the match.

'Yak played well last week against Saints and scored and he looked sharp again today, though I think it was LuaLua who turned the game when he came on with a fresh pair of legs.

'I knew he and Yak would cause their back players problems by running at them.'

Several thousand Portsmouth fans had made the trip and certainly won the day in terms of making noise.

Redknapp added: 'We have had great support all season wherever we have gone and they were fantastic again today.

'They have had two great years and probably never expected to be watching Premier League football so I am delighted we gave them something to shout about today.'