BLACKBURN // Sam Allardyce's side virtually guaranteed themselves Premier League football next season after beating Portsmouth. Blackburn midfielder Morten Gamst Pedersen made the breakthrough with his first goal of the season. He found the target in the 30th minute after a moment of indecision by Portsmouth goalkeeper David James. James was beaten to the ball by Chris Samba and it broke to Pedersen, who forced it home. Benni McCarthy made it two from the spot on 58 minutes after the South African's attempted cross was handled by Portsmouth's Hermann Hreidarsson. A late penalty for Portsmouth was blasted woefully over the bar by John Utaka.
*PA Sport
