THE big Pompey team news was that David James missed his first Premier League game in two seasons at Fratton Park.

The England keeper was ruled out with a calf strain he picked up at Manchester City last weekend and that meant Jamie Ashdown's first league start in two years.

Niko Kranjcar was also rested and among the substitutes, while Lauren got the nod to cover Hermann Hreidarsson's suspension at left-back.

Boss Harry Redknapp reverted to his favoured 4-4-2 home formation with Kanu and Jermain Defoe leading the line.

POMPEY: Ashdown, Johnson, Distin, Campbell, Lauren, Utaka (Kranjcar, h-t), Bouba Diop, Diarra, Muntari (Baros, 78), Defoe, Kanu. Subs: Begovic, Aubey, Davis.

BLACKBURN: Friedel, Reid, Warnock, Samba (Ooijer, 87), Nelsen, Emerton, Vogel, Santa Cruz, Bentley, Pedersen, Roberts (Dunn, 90). Subs: Brown, Tugay, Derbyshire.

Att: 18,722

00 - Kick off.

05 - Bright start from both sides and it looks like a good fast-flowing open game so far, although neither keeper forced into any real action yet.

09 - Sulley Muntari cuts in from the left flank and tries his luck from distance, but it swerves way wide. Brad Friedel wasn't worried, but some bloke in the fourth row of the Milton end looked a bit concerned.

16 - Two great crosses from John Utaka in quick succession just fail to find their targets, while Muntari's stinging volley is diverted behind by Kanu - but he's judged offside.

20 - Pompey are playing some great stuff in spells here. They look the more dangerous, but haven't carved any clear-cut chances just yet.

30 - It's tailed off after a bright start. It could do with a goal to liven things up a bit.

35 - Jermain Defoe smashes home from Glen Johnson's long ball, but the linesman's flag is raised. It was a tight decision, but he just about got it right.

39 - Defoe goes close again as he cuts in from the right and flashes a shot narrowly past the near post. Friedel was struggling if that had been on target.

41 - Good link-up between Kanu, Utaka and Defoe ends in Defoe's effort grazing the far post with Freidel beaten.

42 - Jason Roberts tests Jamie Ashdown, who parries away and Pompey break through Sulley Muntari, only for Steven Reid to bring him down for a yellow card.

45 - HALF TIME - POMPEY 0 BLACKBURN 0

Substitution for Pompey as Niko Kranjcar replaces John Utaka.

46 - We're off and running again with Kranjcar playing wide on the right.

54 - Bit of pressure building up on the Blackburn goal but still nothing to worry Friedel too much. Kranjcar is already adding his guile to the game though.

57 - Superb save from Ashdown as Ryan Nelsen looks certain to head home after some great work from the dangerous David Bentley. Ashdown somehow tips it just past the post.

68 - Still not quite there today for Pompey. A lot of it is good, but they're just missing that extra bit of quality or the right final ball to make the difference. Friedel has still not been forced into a save.

71 - Silly booking for Defoe who shows his frustration at yet another offside by kicking the ball away.

72 - Quick break from Pompey as Kranjcar fires over a glorious low cross, only for Defoe to just fail to connect and Muntari to stab wide.
Moments later Friedel is forced into his first save from Kranjcar's long ranger.

74 - GOAL - 1-0 BLACKBURN - Roque Santa Cruz fires Blackburn ahead after linking up with Jason Roberts.

78 - Substitution for Pompey as Milan Baros comes on for Muntari.

83 - Good work from Kranjcar again as he releases Glen Johnson to provide a low cross, only for Defoe to sweep it over the bar.

87 - Andre Ooijer is on for Chris Samba, who got crunched by Kranjcar in a 50-50 challenge.

88 - Sol Campbell is booked for a late challenge.

89 - Baros so nearly nicks it from Friedel after a backpass, but the Rovers keeper just about gets the ball away in time.

90 - Stephen Warnock is booked for trip on Kranjcar, while David Dubb replaces Roberts.

90 - Lassana Diarra's header is palmed away by Friedel from Kranjcar's free-kick and it was Pompey's last chance.

FULL TIME: POMPEY 0 BLACKBURN 1

What's your verdict on the result? Sign on or register on this page to submit a comment or click here to send us an email.