Rovers hit Pompey Europe bid

Santa Cruz played a one-two with former Pompey striker Jason Roberts before firing past goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown, deputising for England's David James, who was out with a calf injury.

Up front Pompey lacked strength with only Jermain Defoe looking likely to score, having a goal disallowed for offside.

Pompey could find no reply and finished goalless again at home. They can still get into Europe by beating Cardiff in the FA Cup final next month but, on this showing, even that could be in doubt.

With David James missing his first Premier League game since joining from Manchester City at the start of last season, there was little in the first half - apart from Defoe's unquenchable appetite for a shot at goal and David Bentley's midfield movement and style for Blackburn - to interest watching England manager Fabio Capello.

He would have been unimpressed by the poor quality of passing and lack of creativity in the opening 25 minutes.

After Santa Cruz broke the deadlock Roberts would have added a second soon afterwards but for Ashdown's smart reactions which had earlier defied Ryan Nelsen's header.

But despite the return of Kanu and the later appearance of Milan Baros as substitute, Pompey had little up front to support Defoe who was booked for kicking the ball away when again flagged offside in the second half.

Sulley Muntari missed a great chance to level, scuffing substitute Niko Kranjcar's cross beyond the far post and a minute later Santa Cruz extracted the full punishment.

Rovers' only other moment of danger was when Brad Friedel almost gave the ball away to Milan Baros in the six-yard box after controlling a back-pass.