Relentless Rovers seal Pompey's fate
Portsmouth 1 Blackburn Rovers 2 [ Saturday 20 September 2003 ]
A Pompey side brimming with confidence seemed content to strut their stuff on the sun drenched pitch at the 'true home of British football' on the glorious south coast of England. Blackburn proved their worth by soaking up continued presure, but with £6.7 million signing Barry Ferguson ochestrating the game from midfield, the visitors justifiably lept to a 2 goal lead.
Turkish star Tugay tried twice from distance with Shaka Hislop stretched to turn the first effort soaring over the bar for a corner. Pompey's defence was charesterially rock solid defending a relentless barrage of set-pieces well with Dejan Stefanovic a tower of strength.
In the 35 mintute Villain turned to hero as Rovers' Lucas Neil - lambasted by Gerald Houllier for a challenge that broke Jamie Carragher's leg - grabbed the opening goal on the strike of the 35 minute.
Following another corner, this time on the right side, former England striker Andy Cole took possession just beyond the far post and saw his low cross scrapped off the line by Boris Zivkovic, but he only succeeded in prodding the ball via Coles knee to Neill, who effortlessly fired home.
Minutes later a desperate Pompey appealed frantically for a penalty when Brad Friedel came off his line to dive at Yakubu's feet and knock the ball away as the striker crashed down, but despite frantic plees for clemency referee Paul Durkin was having none it.
During stoppage time, Teddy Sheringham unfortunately miskicked from 10 yards after Boris Zivkovic and Tim Sherwood - a surprise choice instead of Russian Alexei Smertin set him up.
Sherwood, who captained Rovers to the Premiership title in 1995, was taken off at half-time as Pompey desperately searched for a way back into the game, and the change almost paid off as pompey defender de Zeeuw rose like a phonix from the flames to neatly nod home from a Steve Stone corner 12 minutes after the break.
The stoical Dutch defender almost doubled his tally soon afterwards but volleyed over the bar after Friedel could only palm away Stone's free kick.
The intervention of Jason Roberts could have pushed Pompey back into contention if it wasn't for missing a whipped cross from Zivkovic - the speed and volicity of the cross would have only needed the slightest of touches from Roberts to of bought about the equaliser.
Pompey were bought swiftly back to reality by Emerton who rattled a bullet like strike off the crossbar after 74 minutes after a Rovers charge.
At the final whistle credit must be given to Rovers who won the game on pure good old fashioned grit and determination - Lorenzo Amoruso played a pivotal role for the visitors playing for most of the game with a bandaged up after a bloody head wound.
Portsmouth (4-4-2)
Hislop, Schemmel, de Zeeuw, Stefanovic, Zivkovic, Stone, Sherwood (Roberts 55), Faye, Quashie (Pericard 84), Sheringham, Ayegbini.
Subs (not used) Wapenaar, Foxe, Smertin.
Booked Quashie, Schemmel.
Blackburn Rovers (4-4-2)
Friedel, Neill (Johansson 90), Amoruso, Babbel, Gresko, Emerton, Tugay (Baggio 64), Ferguson, Thompson, Cole, Jansen (Yorke 64)
Subs (not used) Kelly, Grabbi.
Booked Gresko, Thompson, Cole.