Redknapp praises Rovers strike pair

Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp admitted Blackburn's in-form strike pairing played a crucial role as his side's Carling Cup ambitions were ended alongside their seven-match unbeaten run as Benni McCarthy inspired Rovers' seventh win in a row.

But Blackburn's impressive win was seriously tainted after midfielder Aaron Mokoena was stretchered off after collapsing on the pitch with nobody near him. Results of scans are expected to show he has broken a leg for the second time.

Redknapp paid tribute to Rovers' front two of South African McCarthy and South American Roque Santa Cruz, saying: "One is very clever with the ball and the other is a strong lad who is always looking to score. They gave us problems and we conceded two bad goals."

Redknapp added: "We are still a good side just as Blackburn are. And these players will bounce back because they are good players."

It was McCarthy's early strike which sparked Rovers and was the prelude to his own outstanding performance.

He won special praise from boss Mark Hughes who said: "He's back to his levels of performance from last season.

"Benni was absolutely magnificent and I really enjoyed watching him here. Earlier in the season he wasn't reaching the levels he should do but I left him out for a few games and he understood why.

"He's a gregarious kind of character, very popular with the other players but they enjoy him a lot more when he plays like this."

Poor marking let McCarthy, who notched 24 goals last term, convert Mokoena's cross for a 12th-minute opener and Portsmouth, who are the only English side to beat Blackburn this term - they won 1-0 at Ewood Park in September - seldom looked like finding a reply.

They had their chances early in the second half after Redknapp sent on £6million misfit striker David Nugent in a double-substitution with Matt Taylor, but the former Preston star who has started just four Pompey games, missed a close-range header with the goal gaping.