BLACKBURN Rovers went into half time all square in their Premier League clash against Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

Pompey had an outstanding chance to go ahead in the fourth minute.

Glen Johnson, fed by Peter Crouch, chipped a lovely ball into the box for Glen Little but the former Burnley winger directed a poor left-footed shot straight at the advancing Paul Robinson.

Four minutes later it was Pompey’s turn to have a narrow escape when Crouch almost scored an own goal, glancing a Brett Emerton corner across his own goalmouth with the ball appearing to brush the far post before going out.

Slack Pompey defending gave Rovers another chance in the 12th minute but Warnock sliced high and wide from 12 yards following Morten Gamst Pedersen’s cross from the left.

Eight minutes later Roque Santa Cruz drilled a low drive across goal and just past the far post when Benni McCarthy outwitted Pamarot to slip the ball through - another let-off for the home side.