PORTSMOUTH 1
Murphy 20
BLACKBURN R 0
Valerien Ismael admitted he was only concentrating on getting his first win as Blackburn Rovers boss rather than play-offs after losing to Portsmouth.
Ismael has only picked up a single point as Rovers manager since replacing John Eustace in February, to slip to 11th in the Championship and five points adrift of the top six places.
Blackburn are on a four-match losing streak and have only won one of their last 10 matches away from Ewood Park.
Josh Murphy’s cool first-half strike was the difference at Fratton Park and Ismael reflected on the performance after the match.
Belief
He said: “The first [thing] we need to do is win a game.
“It is step-by-step, but while you are not winning games, you can talk as much as you want, but it is frustrating.
“It has been the picture in many games.
“We are trying to implement the belief, how we want to play and create a new habit.
“The first thing is to keep a clean sheet and stay in the game.
“We have to stay positive; the main focus is the next game and to win three points.
“When you get the three points, the feeling will come back.
“At the minute, I’m just thinking about the next game and to win a game.
“If you are not winning games, you can’t talk about the next step.
“This was a big disappointment, especially how we approached the first half.
“We expected much more.
“The players need to believe more because they have the quality.”
KEY MOMENT: Portsmouth’s Josh Murphy scores the only goal of the game
PICTURES: Alamy
Match action
Pompey have scored 19 points at home since the turn of the year, more than anyone else in the Championship, so it was no surprise when they opened the scoring.
A shotless opening 20 minutes was broken by Murphy’s seventh goal of the season.
Andre Dozzell picked up on a loose defensive header before playing the ball to Murphy.
The winger got into the box via a one-two with Colby Bishop before curling into the bottom corner.
Rovers attempted to bounce straight back.
Ryan Hedges – a 13th-minute substitute – bounded into the penalty area, but his fierce effort was saved by Nicolas Schmid.
Murphy also had Pompey’s second and last shot of the first half, when he drilled a low shot from 25 yards – but Aynsley Pears easily gathered.
CLASH: Portsmouth’s Adil Aouchiche, left, and Blackburn’s Ryan Hedges
The hosts edged the midfield battle, but it was Rovers who had the better chances on the approach to half-time.
Cauley Woodrow, on his first Blackburn start since arriving on loan from Luton, thought he had caught Schmid out from 45 yards, but the goalkeeper recovered.
Woodrow then produced a stunning cross to the back post, but ex-Portsmouth loanee Hayden Carter couldn’t squeeze the ball in.
Yuki Ohashi barely made Schmid work with a tame header, and Lewis Travis skied over the bar.
Carter also cleared the goal after a fine passing move, while Terry Devlin ended a 45-minute wait for a shot by having an effort deflected wide.
Blackburn had plenty of the ball in the second half, but loose passes cost them whenever they threatened.
Star Man – Josh Murphy (Portsmouth)
Cardiff City
Omer Riza is proud of his Cardiff City troops
Championship
OLIVER’S SET FOR BIG STEP
