 Blackburn on the brink of Premiership return
Blackburn moved a step closer to promotion back to Premiership
with a 3-1 win over Portsmouth in their final home game of the
season. But Bolton are still in with a shout after a battling
display against Barnsley ended in a 1-0 win for Sam
Allardyce's men. At the other end of the table Crystal Palace
lost 2-0 at home to Wolves leaving them perilously close to
the drop, and costing boss Alan Smith his job, whilst
Portsmouth, Huddersfield and Grimsby are not safe yet.
Graeme Souness' Blackburn Rovers need just one more win to
confirm their promotion back to the Premiership after two
seasons away, but they made their fans sweat for their 3-1
victory over endangered Portsmouth at Ewood Park. Pompey came
to Lancashire with gritty determination and took a shock lead
after just 11 minutes through Mike Panopolous.
They then showed great spirit in a backs to the wall display
as Blackburn came forward in waves. The equaliser finally came
with half-an-hour left when Pompey skipper Scott Hiley
diverted a cross from Eyal Berkovic into his own net.
Berkovic was also involved in the goal which gave Rovers the
lead. It was his shot that was saved by Peterson in the
Portsmouth goal, only for David Dunn to pounce on the rebound
and turn it into the net. Marcus Bent put the icing on the
cake after capitalising on hesitance at the back to slot home
the third.
Blackburn will be promoted if they win either of their
remaining two matches, against Preston this Wednesday and
Gillingham next Sunday. Graeme Rix's Portsmouth still need to
get a result against Crystal Palace and then at home to
Barnsley to confirm their Division One status.
Bolton, however, are still hot on the heels of Blackburn,
waiting for them to slip up. Michael Ricketts second half goal
against Barnsley was enough to give them the win they needed
at the weekend. But the Wanderers need to win both their
matches, against Wolves and Sheffield United, to have any
chance of sneaking into second.
A 2-0 home defeat to Wolves cost Crystal Palace manager Alan
Smith his job, but his side certainly didn't help him out
conceding goals to Andy Sinton and Adam Proudlock, despite
playing against ten-men following the dismissal of Keith
Andrews. With games against Portsmouth and Stockport to come
Palace must win both if they are to have a realistic chance of
surviving in the First Division.
A 1-1 draw with West Brom was not enough to make Huddersfield
safe, but a good performance led by their goalscorer Andy
Booth will have given them some hope. West Brom equalised
through Jason Roberts to give the Baggies the point which
secures their place in the playoffs.
Preston and Birmingham also confirmed play-off places with
victories over Crewe and troubled Grimsby respectively. Two
goals from Jonathan Macken were the inspiration for Preston's
3-1 win at Gresty Road whilst a single strike from Marcelo
meant that Grimsby are still looking over their shoulder with
a match against champions Fulham to come next week.
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