The former Arsenal striker opened his account within two minutes of coming on
for Svetoslav Todorov, who had opened the scoring with a tap-in after 26
minutes.
Kanu leapt above Andy Todd to score with a far-post header after 62 minutes
and sealed the win with seven minutes left with a similar effort.
A hat-trick went begging when he saw his injury-time penalty saved by Brad
Friedel, although justice was at least done as Todd had been wrongly sent off by
referee Alan Wiley.
• Redknapp hails Pompey newboys
Wiley felt Todd had brought down Kanu but the Rovers defender had got a faint
touch on the ball to send it out for what should have been a corner.
The visitors therefore ended the game with nine men following Lucas Neill's
earlier dismissal for two bookable offences.
Redknapp gave starts to three of his five summer signings with goalkeeper
David James, Sol Campbell and Glen Johnson all lining up in defence.
Blackburn were without Pompey target Ryan Nelsen, Zurab Khizanishvili and
Sergio Peter through injuries and Tugay through suspension, but their new
strikers Benni McCarthy and Jason Roberts were paired up front.
Portsmouth were first to have a strike at goal when Matt Taylor's free-kick
zipped just wide from 25 yards in the second minute after a foul by Robbie
Savage.
Then a good through-ball by Johnson put Benjani Mwaruwari - declared fit after
a thigh strain - away on the right but the muscular Zimbabwean was crowded out
as he penetrated the penalty area.
James made his first Pompey save, tipping Savage's free-kick over the
crossbar. The resulting corner proved a painful experience for the Welsh
midfielder. Pompey cleared it and he came down in a heap following a clash of
heads with Benjani, needing extensive treatment from the physio before going
off.
Savage was soon back in the action, to the derision of the home crowd, which
grew in volume when he went down again to win a free-kick - and a booking for
Pompey's Taylor.
Morten Gamst Pedersen's pass was just too long for McCarthy to chase into the
area as Rovers began to look threatening in the 14th minute but within seconds
Benjani burst through at the other end and fired a powerful effort just off
target.
Pompey had an amazing escape in the 21st minute when McCarthy reached an
over-hit pass on the dead-ball line and clipped it back over James` head into
the centre of the six-yard box.
In a hectic scramble that followed, Pompey skipper Stefanovic finished face
down with the ball under his stomach - and won a free-kick after being caught by
a stray boot.
However in the 25th minute Pompey went ahead. A right-wing cross from Benjani
was met by Todorov, who scored with his left foot from five yards.
In the second half Blackburn pushed forward in search of an equaliser and
Roberts beat two men on the left-hand side of the box before firing in a low
right-footed shot which James saved comfortably at the base of the post.
Redknapp then brought on Kanu for Todorov and it paid instant dividends with
the former Arsenal striker scoring within two minutes.
O'Neil was sent clear down the right wing and picked out Kanu at the back post
who climbed over Andy Todd to head down into the bottom corner.
And just two minutes later the game was surely ended as a contest when Neill,
who had already been booked, received a second yellow card for a foul on Kanu.
His manager was furious with the decision but Rovers were down to 10 men and
destined for defeat.
Blackburn's woes were summed up by Emerton's attempted volley from the
right-hand side of the box which was screwed out of play 10 yards up the
opposite touchline.
And Kanu sealed victory with his second goal of the game on 83 minutes, again
climbing above his marker in the box to send a header past Friedel into the far
corner.
Redknapp hails Pompey newboysPortsmouth manager Harry Redknapp saluted new signings Kanu, Sol Campbell,
David James and Glen Johnson after his side demolished nine-man Blackburn 3-0 at
Fratton Park.
Kanu, a second-half substitute, scored twice and spurned the chance of a
glorious hat-trick when his last-gasp penalty was saved by Blackburn keeper Brad
Friedel while Campbell, Johnson and keeper James were giants in defence.
'It could not have gone better for us,' said Redknapp. 'I was a bit worried about the fitness of some of the players before the
start but we could have been three-up by half-time let alone after they had two
sent-off.
'I always felt we were good value for a win. Sol Campbell was excellent.
James and Johnson did great jobs and I thought Benjani (Mwaruwari) was
outstanding.
'He missed almost all pre-season work and Sol has been short of training and
Kanu has only managed to run around a park since he left West Brom last season.
'But it all worked out well and Sol showed he will be a good player for
Portsmouth.
'They all played their parts today and we well deserved our win.
'I am still looking for players and I believe we need to sign at least four
more before the deadline but we have a terrific free transfer in Kanu and he
shows all his old skills.
'Bryan Robson wanted to keep him at West Brom and he could have gone to
Hamburg and played in the Champions League.
'We still lack strength in depth and have to build the squad but this is a
good start.'
Blackburn manager Mark Hughes has asked referee Alan Wiley to review the Todd
decision, claiming the defender played the ball before Kanu fell over Friedel's
legs.
'He said he will do that and if that's the case we are hopeful about getting
the card against Todd dropped,' said Hughes.
He added: 'Lucas had two yellow cards and so it had to be a red as well
because he challenged when Kanu was on the half-way line.
'The player was going nowhere and I thought the referee could have cut Lucas
a bit of slack. But we will have to improve a lot on this performance.
'We put ourselves back in contention after half-time but it was always going
to be difficult for us after the first sending-off. We made a bad start, trying
to ease our way and you just can't do that especially away from home.'
Portsmouth 3 - 0 Blackburn Rovers
