Late goal favours Portsmouth this time

Portsmouth 3 Blackburn Rovers 2: FRATTON PARK has been the place for late goals over the past week and after suffering heartbreak at the hands of Milan on Thursday the Portsmouth manager, Tony Adams, was grateful to be the beneficiary of the drama for once.

Sean Davis was the unlikely hero, scoring his first goal in two and a half years as Adams celebrated his first home victory since replacing Harry Redknapp.

The Portsmouth manager admitted he feared a repeat of Thursday's events after the FA Cup holders squandered a two-goal lead, just as they had in drawing 2-2 with Milan in the Uefa Cup. "To concede another two goals after leading, I am amazed with the spirit," said the relieved manager. "We lack a bit of maturity but you need to have great spirit to react to the things we have been through because mentally it can hurt you and dent you."

This match got off to a subdued start before sparking into life at the start of the second half. Peter Crouch and Jermain Defoe have been their main source of goals this season and the front pair helped themselves to a goal each in a devastating four-minute spell.

First Crouch rose at the far post to head Glen Johnson's pinpoint cross beyond Paul Robinson. Defoe then showed why Adams is so desperate for him to delay surgery on a long-term calf injury that ruled him out against Milan by making it 2-0 with his eighth goal of the season. Niko Kranjcar, a substitute, threaded a pass through the middle of the Blackburn defence and Defoe sidestepped Christopher Samba before rolling the ball under Robinson's body and into the net.

But the match swung when Paul Ince brought on Derbyshire for the ineffective Benni McCarthy after 61 minutes and the England under-21 striker rewarded his manager by scoring with his first touch. Morten Gamst Pedersen picked out Derbyshire with a brilliant cross from the left and the substitute sent a looping header over David James. Blackburn were level five minutes later when Tugay Kerimoglu found the bottom right corner with an unstoppable 30-yard shot.

Adams has, since returning to management, witnessed Portsmouth succumb to late goals against Hull City, Wigan Athletic and Fulham in their last three home matches.

This time it was Portsmouth who struck late as Davis ended a drought dating back to March 2006. Papa Bouba Diop carved open the Blackburn defence with a powerful surge from midfield and the Senegalese international's fierce right-foot shot was parried by Robinson. With boots flying Nwankwo Kanu bravely stooped to head the ball into Davis's path and the substitute kept his composure to chip the on-rushing Robinson from six yards.

Blackburn have now gone nine games without a league win but Ince remains upbeat. "It is frustrating and disappointing but no one can question the spirit of the team and the players. They showed by coming back from 2-0 down that they are willing to fight for each other to get us out of the situation we are in."

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