Allardyce happy with comeback

Sam Allardyce hailed Blackburn's battling spirit after they came back from a 'dire' first-half to claim three priceless points against Portsmouth at Ewood Park.

Rovers were booed off at the break after Jamie O'Hara's long-range opener put Pompey in front but after some inspired substitutions, Allardyce saw his side coast home.

"I don't normally get so radical at half-time but it was our worst first-half performance this season and the fans rightly showed their displeasure," the Rovers boss said.

"It boiled down to the players not coping with Pompey's system so we took our wide men off and matched it. It worked tremendously well and it got us another important victory."

Allardyce put the dismal first-half down to nerves as his side had the chance of clawing their way out of the bottom three at the expense of their opponents.

Equaliser

But thankfully for the home side substitute Jason Roberts toe-poked the equaliser from a Ryan Nelsen knock-down.

Then the Blackburn defender turned goalscorer as he powerfully headed in for 2-1. Roberts killed off Pompey's hopes of a late comeback as he latched onto a Benni McCarthy cross.

Allardyce said he was happy with how his players responded to the early set-back when O'Hara drilled home with around a quarter of an hour gone in the first-half.

"The players seemed to let the nerves get to them a little bit but they overcame their nerves and got a good result, so full marks to them in the end," said the Blackburn chief.

"We showed our quality at set-pieces and with the third goal. We like to do it the hard way. It was a sloppy goal we conceded but we've recovered from it well."