Blackburn Rovers moved up to fifth in the Championship table as three goals in 15 minutes saw them beat Portsmouth 3-0 at Ewood Park.

It was not a straightforward evening for Rovers, who had to be patient to make the breakthrough. However, once Makhtar Gueye had headed them in front, they wrapped up the three points with two more quickfire goals.

Rovers had chances in an evenly-contested first half. Andi Weimann chipped well over the bar whilst Dom Hyam headed over, two chances both will feel they should've scored.

Colby Bishop got hearts racing just before half-time as he somehow headed against the crossbar from close range. There were certainly no guarantees of the comfy final scoreline at the halfway stage.

But proactive substitutions helped unlock a stubborn Pompey defence. Gueye rose highest to head in Callum Brittain's back-post header before the right-back scored only his second goal since moving from Barnsley in 2022.

It was a defining 60 seconds as Portsmouth saw Bishop's header cleared off the line, only for Rovers to break and Brittain to smash in a second. That felt like game over.

Weimann ensured that was the case as he bundled in a third. Gueye's shot was saved as he went through on goal but the Austrian netted his seventh of the season and second in as many matches.

That ensured a first league win of 2025 and lifted John Eustace's men back into the play-off places with a better second half and a more ruthless streak proving crucial.

The equation was pretty simple for Rovers, victory would lift them back into the Championship play-off places and up to fifth in the table. Not a bad position to be in at mid-January.

Whilst those on the outside may have expected a routine victory, the Championship rarely follows that logic. Undoubtedly, this was a tougher fixture at this stage than when rain-pour postponed the game in November.

Portsmouth's home form has since lifted them out of the bottom three. Whilst their frailties on the road have remained, with one win prior to kick-off, their overall confidence levels have grown as the season has aged.

The Hull City game was a keen reminder in the back of any Rovers fans' head of the patience that might be required - and how it can go wrong. That was the first of back-to-back defeats prior to this encounter, with Rovers keen to return to winning ways in front of their own supporters.

Eustace made three changes, restoring Aynsley Pears, Tyrhys Dolan and Ryan Hedges to the team. Kyle McFadzean was a notable absentee due to illness, though a move to Chesterfield remains in the offing, whilst new signings Dion Sanderson and Adam Forshaw were on the bench.

Weimann was picked to lead the line for Rovers for the first time, with three strikers named on the bench. Perhaps a message from the head coach about the obvious need for a number nine this month.

Whilst the Austrian might be Rovers' joint-top scorer, he was guilty of spurning a brilliant chance early on. Portsmouth had made most of the running in the first 15 minutes but a loose pass put him clean through on goal. Without the pace to eat up the yards in front of him, he tried to lob Nicolas Schmid and got it badly wrong, missing the target.

Rovers' second opportunity came and went as their confidence grew. Tyrhys Dolan sent over a fantastic cross into the box, taking out the goalkeeper, but Dom Hyam headed just over. Another big moment.

Ryan Hedges then headed just wide at the near post as the hosts continued to huff and puff. But approaching half-time, it was the visitors who were the happier of the teams in a very even contest.

Portsmouth then passed up a golden opportunity to lead at Ewood Park. A corner into the box wasn't dealt with and the ball dropped to Bishop a few yards out. Somehow, he hit the bar with everyone in the ground expecting to see the net ripple. A major let-off.

It had all the hallmarks of the aforementioned Hull defeat. Pockets of bright play from Rovers, some nice moments but they could be accused of letting the game drift rather than stamping their authority on it.

Brittain tested Schmidt's reflex after the break after being played in down the right but the Portsmouth goalkeeper saved with his legs. Bishop then had another good chance with a header but didn't connect cleanly.

That was enough to tempt Eustace to turn to his bench, with 10 minutes of the second half played. Those proactive changes proved to be an inspired decision as five minutes later, the deadlock was broken.

Todd Cantwell played a great switch of play to Brittain, who delivered a perfect, deep cross to the back post. Gueye got up early and powered the header past the goalkeeper to give Rovers the lead and ease some of the tension.

60 seconds then followed which decided the course of the match. Rovers were extremely fortunate to get away with one as Pears came for a long ball over the top but was beaten to it. Lang crossed for Bishop but his header was cleared off the line as it trickled towards going in.

Rovers counter-attacked from that and within seconds, were two goals up. The ball was fed to Brittain on the right and he thundered in a shot to double their advantage. A defining few moments in the course of the match.

Portsmouth became stretched and left spaces at the back which Rpvers exploited. They added their third as Cantwell put Gueye through, he was denied by the goalkeeper but Weimann was on hand to bundle the rebound into the net.

It made for a very comfortable final 15 minutes after three goals from 61' to 76'. Forshaw and Sanderson both made their debuts to cap a perfect night.