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Blackburn Rovers beat Portsmouth 2-0 at Ewood Park to guarantee their participation in the Premier League next season.

Morten Gamst Pedersen and Benni McCarthy scored the goals either side of half-time, the second from the spot, while substitute John Utaka missed a penalty for Pompey late on.

Paul Hart's side remain in trouble but are not likely to get relegated, standing seven points clear of second- and third-bottom Middlesbrough and Newcastle, who meet on Monday.

It was, as may have been expected, a scrappy affair from the start, with early yellow cards dished out by Mike Riley to McCarthy and Glen Johnson for late challenges.

The South African striker was the first to threaten, spinning to curl a cross which struck the outside of the shaky-looking David James's post via a deflection.

The fans had to wait until the half-hour mark before a quality passage of play - and when it arrived, it almost brought a goal with it.

El-Hadji Diouf found McCarthy on the left wing whose backheel down the line was perfect for onrushing full-back Stephen Warnock; the arriving Diouf met the low cross with a first-time shot that went wide of the far post.

Two minutes later Rovers were in front after a controversial strike from Pedersen.

Warnock's long diagonal ball was not dealt with by James as makeshift striker Christopher Samba put pressure on him and the Norwegian poked home; but there was doubt as to whether the defender by trade had touched the ball as he caught the keeper with his lunge.

Hermann Hreidarsson headed wide from 15 yards as Paul Robinson scrambled across and the half ended with Blackburn a goal to the good.

Pompey were also looking for a point which would have guaranteed their survival, but failed to offer anything in an attacking context until the introduction of Jermaine Pennant, Kanu and Utaka.

Before they appeared Warnock missed a golden chance after Samba flicked on Pedersen's long throw and a Samba header was ruled out for a foul on Sol Campbell which could have gone either way.

Hreidarsson then threw out an arm to deflect a chipped McCarthy ball inside the corner of the box and the striker stepped up to send James the wrong way with 32 minutes left on the clock.

Sixteen of those passed without a direct threat to the Rovers goal before Kanu threaded a ball through for Utaka to race past Robinson, only for his weak shot at goal to be cleared off the line by home captain Ryan Nelsen.

Despite an attacking revival from Hart's men they seemed destined to end the match without scoring before Keith Andrews handled a Kanu cross with his hand behind his back - and Utaka grabbed hold of the ball.

However the Nigerian placed his kick over the top corner to complete a miserable day in Lancashire while Sam Allardyce celebrated Premier League safety with the Rovers players and fans.

Jonathan Symcox / Eurosport