Portsmouth registered their first away win of the new Premier League season as they overcame Blackburn 1-0 at Ewood Park last weekend. This was also Pompey's first away win since Boxing Day last December.

The defeat also means that Blackburn's fairy-tale run in the Premier League came to an abrupt halt. Rivers looked tired and immobile on the field following their mid-week Uefa Cup trip to Greece. However manager Mark Hughes said after the game that they did not want to use the UEFA Cup as an excuse.

Blackburn started the brighter of the two teams and almost took the lead in the fifth minute when Roque Santa Cruz hit the post with a clean shot. Santa Cruz sent a pass to David Bentley and then headed into the box to collect the ball, but was unable to put the finishing touches. In the 10th minute Mortem Gamst Pedersen controlled a Benni McCarthy pass and sent it trough to Santa Cruz who passed onto Bentley. The latter's shot was just over.

However Portsmouth regained control soon after and Kanu fired them into the lead with a fine piece of football. Blackburn goalie Brad Friedel had just made a fine save off a Kanu header and had even parried a rebound shot, but he was helpless when the Nigerian went around him in the 25th minute to tap the ball home. Papa Bouba Diop had initiated the move as he headed a deep cross behind the Rovers' defence. Kanu who was unmarked sent the ball goal ward with a minimum of fuss.

After the break, Tugay and Matt Derbyshire came on for David Dunn and McCarthy, but Rovers were unable to break the Pompey defence and had to concede defeat.

Portsmouth are on the 11th position on the table with nine points from seven games, while Blackburn are on the 10th spot with nine points from six games. Watch Premier League Live on free-football.tv.