Aiyegbeni Yakubu struck a late winner to secure Portsmouth's first away victory in the Premiership and drag Blackburn back down into the relegation battle.

The Nigerian's goal was just reward for a drab match in which he had been a beacon of light, and a second consecutive victory gives Pompey renewed hope of avoiding the drop in the first season in the Premiership.

Yakubu had also won the free-kick that led to Teddy Sheringham opening the scoring before Tugay equalised with a deflected effort.

As for Blackburn, the defeat was greeted by a crescendo of boos and their dreadful home form means there will be an uncomfortable end of the season for manager Graeme Souness.

This was not a match for the purist but neither one for the thrill-seeker. There was a down-beat atmosphere about the match - perhaps due to both sides' terror of defeat -and the game was only enlivened by some tremendous support from the impressive numbers of travelling fans.

Souness, looking incongruous in a suit, one shoe and one trainer due a painful foot problem, appeared a worried man from the start and with just cause.

Portsmouth built the first attack of note when Matthew Taylor's raid into the Blackburn penalty area saw him bypass Brad Friedel but Craig Short arrived to clear from inside the six-yard box.

Jon Stead swept a volley sky-high as Rovers attempted to respond and then the striker did well to prod a shot on target after Linvoy Primus had missed a clearance but could not trouble Shaka Hislop in the Portsmouth goal.

Then came the opener from Sheringham. Yakubu won a free-kick against Andy Todd in a dangerous position for the visitors 25 yards from goal and his strike partner made Blackburn pay dearly for the foul.

The veteran striker curled a low shot around the wall and in off the post to the joy of the substantial number of travelling fans - it was only the seventh away goal they had witnessed their side score in the Premiership.

Taylor then struck a glorious rising drive on the run after a peach of a ball by Yakubu only to see it soar past the angle.

Stead should have levelled after being out clean through by Andy Cole but Hislop blocked well and the ricocheted bobbled wide.

Friedel, who must have been disappointed with the Pompey goal, made amends when Steve Stone, slipped through by Yakubu, fired towards the corner only for the American to save with his leg.

Portsmouth continued to look threatening, using the width of the pitch well, so it was something of a surprise when Tugay equalised in the 37th minute.

Andresen had won a corner after his instinctive shot on the turn had come off Arjan de Zeeuw's head, and from the flag-kick Brett Emerton found Tugay lurking unmarked 30 yards out.

The Turkey midfielder struck a tremendous low drive but it still needed a touch of fortune - deflecting towards Taylor in the six-yard box who fell in a tangle with the ball going between his legs and across the line.

Portsmouth's impressive combination of passes ended with Stone crossing for Yakubu but the Nigerian could only flick a header over the crossbar.

Cole then ended the half on an upbeat note heading powerfully but straight at Hislop.

Rovers looked more determined in the second period but were unable to find a finish, summed up when Emerton produced a telling cross to the far-post where Flitcroft met it but headed down and wide when he should at least have hit the target.

Cole almost surprised Pompey when he whipped a shot across the goalmouth then Sheringham missed by the same narrow margin following Alexei Smertin's weaving run.

Yakubu made his presence felt again with a delightful pass towards Sheringham, who was running across goal, but Friedel came swooping out and took ball and man at the same time.

The Nigerian then threatened again, cutting inside before unleashing a fierce strike that Friedel just managed to palm around the post, then Hislop beat away an attempt of similar venom from Rovers full-back Michael Gray.

Eight minutes from time Yakubu grabbed the goal his display had deserved. Lomana Lua-Lua had looked problematic for Blackburn ever since his introduction as a 71st-minute substitute for Sheringham and it was his run that led to the goal.

Lucas Neill's challenge on the edge of the area looked to have ended the danger but the ball ran only to Yakubu who calmly bent it past Friedel with an excellent finish.

Cole should have equalised almost straight away when Emerton's corner landed at his feet but he mis-hit his shot badly.

Teams:

Blackburn: Friedel, Neill, Todd, Short, Gray (Gallagher 83), Emerton, Flitcroft, Tugay, Andresen (Yorke 71), Cole, Stead (Reid 78).

Subs Not Used: Amoruso, Enckelman.

Goals: Tugay 37.

Portsmouth: Hislop, Pasanen, Primus, De Zeeuw, Stefanovic, Stone, Smertin, Faye, Taylor (Hughes 88), Sheringham (LuaLua 71), Yakubu.

Subs Not Used: Mornar, Berkovic, Wapenaar.

Goals: Sheringham 17, Yakubu 82.

Att: 22,855

Ref: P Durkin (Dorset).