The Blues return to winning ways in the Championship thanks to a first half Josh Murphy strike at Fratton Park.
Portsmouth are now 7 points above the relegation zone after today’s win, which is 3 points further away than it was prior to the international break.
With only 7 matches remaining Pompey are on full course to establish their Championship status for the first time since 2012, where they were relegated after just 2 seasons.
15 minutes in, Owen Beck had to come off for Blackburn, after the Liverpool loanee went down with a knee injury and the full back was almost stretcher off, but he managed to walk down to the tunnel.
Ismaël had to make a change in formation to make room for sub Ryan Hedges who is traditionally known as a winger, with Riberio moving to left back from centre half and Rovers going to four at the back instead of 5.
Josh Murphy gave the hosts the lead inside 20 minutes, after he fired the ball home from the left-hand side to give Pompey a 1-0 lead.
Ryan Hedges almost made instant impact when he came on, but the winger’s effort at the near post was denied by Nicolas Schmid.
Portsmouth lost possession, with Cauley Woodrow winning the ball and the Luton Town loanee almost caught Schmid of his line, but the Austrian managed to get both hands onto the ball.
Ex-Pompey loanee Hayden Carter also had a chance to grab an equaliser for the visitors just before half time, but the defenders effort was too high for the goal.
Half-time: Portsmouth 1-0 Blackburn Rovers
Yuki Ohashi had a chance early on in the second half, but the Japanese attackers header was hit straight at Schmid in goal.
Ohashi was then subbed off as well as Woodrow for Todd Cantwell and Makhtar Gueye.
Captain Matt Ritchie and Adil Aouchiche’s afternoon was up, with the duo coming off for Jordan Williams and Terry Devlin who achieved his first international cap for Northern Ireland this week.
Gueye had a chance to head away Cantwell’s corner, but the Senegalese forwards header was punched away by Schmid.
Late on, Sondre Tronstad and Hayden Carter came off for John Buckley and Joe Rankin-Costello.
The Blues then made their third and final sub of the day, with Cohen Bramall coming off for club captain Marlon Pack on 90 minutes.
Full-time: Portsmouth 1-0 Blackburn Rovers
Next up: A trip to East London beckons for John Mousinho’s side as Portsmouth visit Alex Neil’s Millwall at the Den next Saturday.
Next up: A trip to East London beckons for John Mousinho’s side as Portsmouth visit Alex Neil’s Millwall at the Den next Saturday.
The Blues have only picked up two wins away from home all season, a 2-0 win away at Oxford United, and the other was against the only other Championship club located in London is Queens Park Rangers back in October.
Can Pompey get back to winning ways away from home? They will next take on a Millwall side that have only won 6 times at home in the league this season.
Portsmouth: 13. Schmid (GK) 22. Swanson 5. Poole, 3. Ogilvie, 18. Bramall (7. Pack), 21. Dozzell, 8. Potts, 30. Ritchie (C) (2. Williams), 17. Aouchiche (24. Devlin), 23. Murphy, 9. Bishop (Formation: 4-2-3-1)
Unused subs: 31. Archer, 11. O’Mahony, 14. Gordon, 15. Saydee, 20. Waddingham, 37. Milošević, 45. Hayden
Goals: Murphy 20’
Bookings: Swanson 36’, Poole 37’, Williams 75’, Potts 81’
Head coach: John Mousinho
Blackburn Rovers: 1. Pears (GK), 17. Carter, 5. Hyam, 15. Batth, 4. Ribeiro, 24. Beck (19. Hedges) 27. Travis (C), 6. Tronstad, 23. Ohashi (8. Cantwell) 10. Dolan, 45. Woodrow ( 9. Gueye) (Formation: 4-3-3)
Unused subs: 12. Toth (GK), 21. Buckley, 28. Forshaw, 31. Sanderson, 33. Cozier-Duberry
Bookings: Dolan 6’, Batth 40’
Manager: Valérien Ismaël
Venue: Fratton Park
Referee: Jeremy Simpson
Attendance: 20,342 (Including 1,079 Blackburn fans)
The latest Pompey Live: Extra-Time podcast is also available to download and listen back to - Jake Smith was with Kirsty Roxanne and James Wilson in the South Stand press box to reflect on the win.
Hear more reaction to today's game when The Football Hour returns on Express FM, Monday (March 31st) evening from 6pm! Jake Smith will be joined alongside 2 more Blues fans to further reflect on Portsmouth's win at Fratton Park this afternoon.
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