Blackburn Rovers 1 - 0 Portsmouth

Blackburn 1-0 Portsmouth

Updated: September 18, 2004, 12:31 PM ET

Matt Jansen came off the bench to ensure new manager Mark Hughes got his managerial career at Blackburn off to a winning start against Portsmouth with a 1-0 victory.

• Jansen's strike hands Hughes debut win

The 26-year-old striker has endured a terrible two years since a motor scooter accident left him badly injured.

He was out of favour with former boss Graeme Souness but made an instant impact for Hughes to grab Rovers' first win of the season.

With 13 minutes remaining, and the game looking likely to end goalless, Jansen received a ball from Brett Emerton with his back to goal.

From 10 yards out, he turned and shot hard into the corner, giving Pompey keeper Shaka Hislop no chance.

Hughes' inspired substitution possibly flattered his side as they had looked toothless in attack before Jansen's arrival.

But he and Jay Bothroyd added a different dimension to Blackburn's attacks when they were brought on in the second half.

And by the final whistle, they looked confident and assured - but that was far from how they performed for much of the game.

Hughes played the same team humbled by Newcastle last week - and the team he inherited continued to struggle early on despite the manager's presence.

No clear-cut chances were created in the first half and the home side relied on the industry of Paul Dickov to force corners and free kicks.

The Scotland forward looked most likely to trouble Pompey but his efforts early on were limited to a long-range drive that drifted wide.

Strike partner Jon Stead also had a sharp effort from outside the area miss the target - but both were rarely supplied with crosses or through balls.

Pompey, however, looked brighter in attack with Aiyegbeni Yakubu and Ricardo Fuller combining well and creating problems for Hughes' defenders.

Fuller had the best chance of the first half when he was through on goal just before the break - but the former Preston striker hit the outside of the post.

Early in the second half, the striker appeared to tripped by Garry Flitcroft but referee Mark Clattenburg waved play on.

The striker appeared affected by this decision and was not as effective from then on. In the final stages he was booked for diving in the area, such was his frustration.

Yakubu also had chances but was muscled off the ball on the first three occasions. Craig Short threw himself in front of the Nigeria striker to deny him a shot on goal - and was injured for his efforts.

The centre-back was immediately brought off for Lorenzo Amoruso - and it was the former Rangers man who had Blackburn's best effort of the first hour.

Returning from suspension after his sending off against Manchester United, Amoruso thundered a free kick on target but Shaka Hislop saved and Dickov could not convert the rebound.

Yakubu missed a glaring opportunity midway through the second half when he was through on goal after tricking Dominic Matteo.

With the Scotland international on the floor, Yakubu only had Brad Friedel to beat but blasted over when he had plenty of time to compose himself.

It was the last chance Harry Redknapp's side had as Jansen was brought on shortly after.

The ineffective Morten-Gamst Pedersen made way for the striker and the manager's decision to bring him back from the reserves was vindicated on 77 minutes.

But Rovers threatened before with Jansen's dynamic performance inspiring them.

Hislop had to save from substitute Bothroyd who looked lively and direct on his home debut.

Jansen's goal then transformed Rovers into a confident passing team - not the strugglers who had not won before this match.

Dominic Matteo also had a delicate chip drop just wide and Emerton cut inside from the right and fired wide before the end.

It was a perfect start for Hughes, although the first-half performance lacked an attacking edge before Jansen's timely arrival.

Jansen's strike hands Hughes debut win

Mark Hughes was delighted with his winning start to his managerial career at Blackburn - but admits there is work to be done to turn the club around.

Rovers beat Portsmouth 1-0 at Ewood Park after Hughes made an inspired substitution by bringing on striker Matt Jansen - who scored the winner with 13 minutes left.

But Pompey looked brighter for long periods of the game and the new boss says he will look at particular areas to build on his side's first win of the season.

'I'm obviously delighted with the result, we wanted the three points and it was a good start,' he said.

'It was important to make an immediate impact and we've been able to do that.

'It's been a difficult week for the players as they've been in the dark for the last 10 days so I thought it was important to make an impact once the decision was made to come to the football club.

'There are obvious areas we need to work on and I will be doing that.

'We've made a good start - the best start I could have hoped for. We've got a base now with the other results going well for us - and now we've got to build on it.

'Sometimes when a new person takes charge it helps the team and you don't have to say much. The secret now is to keep that going.'

Jansen was out of favour under previous manager Graeme Souness - but made an instant impact under Hughes.

Hughes added: 'It's fantastic for Matt as he has had a difficult time and he needs a little more confidence and scoring the winning goal will help.

'I played with Matt a couple of years ago and I know the ability he has. He's an asset to the football club and today I hoped he would come on and have an impact and thankfully he did.'

The 26-year-old striker was badly injured in a motor scooter accident two years ago and has struggled for form and fitness since.

Jansen added: 'Thankfully I got my chance and put it away.

'The crowd gave me a great reception and I'm indebted to them for helping me through the last two years.

'I've just got to build on it and carry on working hard. He (Hughes) knows what I'm capable of and I'm thankful he put his faith in me.

'I thought I'd played my last game for Blackburn but my team-mates and the crowd kept me going.

'It's a bit demoralising and you need first team games to increase your confidence but I'm biding my time.

'He (Souness) made his mind up and all managers are entitled to do that. It happens to other players but I thought if there's a new manager it is effectively the same as finding a new club.

'I was delighted when he (Hughes) was given the job because he was the player's choice as well as the fans' choice.'

Harry Redknapp was furious with referee Mark Clattenburg after Ricardo Fuller was booked for diving in the final moments.

The former Preston striker appeared to be bundled over by Rovers keeper Brad Friedel but Clattenburg did not give the spot kick.

'It was a nailed on blatant penalty - you'll see it on TV. And he books him when he gets bundled over. What is he supposed to do, he's not superman.

'What can you do, I can't change the decision once it has been made. He thought it was a penalty and he was charged over.

'We finished the first half and I thought we'd go on to win. Fuller's hit the post and I thought he and (Aiyegbeni) Yakubu would cause them problems.'

Yakubu had a great chance to open the scoring in the second half but blazed over when through on goal.

'He used his strength and only had to hit the target. It was a great opportunity.

'They looked brighter when Jansen came on and the crowd responded to him. I think it gave the crowd a lift and when you're 0-0 at home you've got to try something.'