Blackburn Rovers ended their Championship winless streak with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Portsmouth, moving into the play-off places. The match took place at Ewood Park and saw John Eustace's men deliver a decisive performance on the rescheduled fixture date. This contest, initially postponed in November due to Storm Bert's waterlogged pitch, brought much-needed success for Blackburn, who had not tasted victory in their previous six league outings.
The game unfolded with intense action, beginning with Portsmouth's Colby Bishop striking against the crossbar in the first half, setting a competitive tone. Despite their efforts, Portsmouth found themselves on the back foot when Blackburn's Makhtar Gueye broke the deadlock just past the hour mark. Callum Brittain then doubled Blackburn's advantage in the 71st minute, furthering their dominance.
Colby Bishop remained a central figure for Portsmouth, having a header cleared off the line as they sought a way back into the game. Their appeals for a penalty were dismissed, adding to their frustrations.
"You probably saw from my reaction, I knew it was a penalty at the time."
John Mousinho
Blackburn's Andreas Weimann capped off a successful evening by adding a third goal soon after Brittain's strike, sealing the fate of the visitors. This victory propelled Blackburn up two positions to fifth in the Championship standings.
Portsmouth, on the other hand, faced dire consequences from this defeat. The team slipped into the relegation zone, courtesy of Cardiff's 1-1 draw with Watford. Now sitting second bottom in the Championship, Portsmouth trails one point behind the 21st-placed Bluebirds. This loss marked Portsmouth's fourth defeat in five league games, highlighting their ongoing struggles this season.
John Eustace expressed his satisfaction with Blackburn's performance:
"It was a big game for us tonight."
John Eustace
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