Source: BBC

Portsmouth’s hopes of claiming a Uefa Cup place by finishing fifth suffered a setback as they lost to Blackburn.

Roque Santa Cruz grabbed the winner with a low shot after a neat one-two with strike partner Jason Roberts.

Earlier, Jermain Defoe twice shot narrowly wide for Pompey in a frustrating match for the home side.

Jamie Ashdown excellently saved a Ryan Nelsen header but he could not keep out Santa Cruz’s shot as Blackburn helped their Intertoto Cup aspirations.

FA Cup finalists Portsmouth started the game in promising fashion as they attempted to put pressure on Everton and Aston Villa in the race for a place in Europe next season.

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Sulley Muntari struck an early shot but it was always going wide and Pompey were then given a scare as a Santa Cruz cross took a deflection and looped to the near post, where Morten Gamst Pedersen headed the ball across the goal before it was cleared.

The home side quickly regained the initiative and Muntari showed good skill to chest and volley an effort at goal only for team-mate Kanu to divert the ball over.

Defoe twice went close in as many minutes as they continued to strive for a breakthrough, firstly surging towards goal before sending a shot just wide and then angling another effort narrowly the wrong side of the far post.

In a flurry of action, Roberts had an opportunity for Rovers and his powerful shot stung the hands of keeper Ashdown, who was in the Portsmouth side to allow England keeper David James to rest a calf injury.

Pompey brought on Niko Kranjcar after the break to add some creativity to their attacking play, but it was Blackburn who nearly opened the scoring.

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A corner found the giant Christopher Samba at the far post and his close range shot was blocked by Papa Bouba Diop.

But the Fratton Park side did not clear their lines and David Bentley crossed for Nelsen, whose stooping header forced an excellent save from Ashdown.

Portsmouth were becoming increasingly frustrated and their mood was not helped when a sliding Muntari put a low first-time Kranjcar cross disappointingly wide.

And Blackburn compounded their misery by taking the lead when Santa Cruz grabbed his 21st goal of the campaign.

Lassana Diarra had a header saved by Brad Friedel for Pompey, who could not prevent a third home league loss of the season.