Blackburn Rovers ended their Championship winless streak in emphatic fashion, securing a 3-0 victory over Portsmouth at Ewood Park. This crucial win propelled Blackburn into the play-off positions, while Portsmouth slipped into the relegation zone. The match, initially postponed due to Storm Bert's impact, saw a dominant display from John Eustace's team.
Makhtar Gueye opened the scoring for Blackburn just past the hour mark, setting the pace for the home side. Callum Brittain doubled the lead in the 71st minute, capitalizing on a period of sustained pressure. Andreas Weimann sealed the victory with a third goal soon after, ensuring a comfortable win for Blackburn.
John Eustace expressed satisfaction with his team's performance, stating:
"It was a big game for us tonight."
Blackburn manager John Eustace
Portsmouth, despite their efforts, faced a series of frustrations throughout the match. Colby Bishop's header was cleared off the line, denying Portsmouth a potential comeback. A contentious moment arose when Portsmouth appealed for a penalty, only for their pleas to be dismissed by the referee. This decision proved to be a point of contention for Portsmouth manager John Mousinho, who remarked:
"I knew it was a penalty at the time."
Portsmouth manager John Mousinho
Portsmouth's defeat marked their fourth loss in five league games, complicating their position in the Championship standings. The team now finds themselves second bottom, just a point behind Cardiff City, who managed a draw against Watford.
The triumph marks Blackburn's first victory in six league outings, moving them up two places to fifth in the Championship table. This result offers a significant boost to their play-off ambitions as they look to build momentum in upcoming fixtures.
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