Colby Bishop provided a lucky late equaliser that ensured Portsmouth finished the match level with Blackburn, the final score reading 2-2 at Fratton Park. John Mousinho made three alterations to the side that had been held to a goalless stalemate against Charlton, and Bishop was among the players who left the pitch. Across the divide, Tony Mowbray also had to tweak his line‑up after Blackburn’s recent triumph over Millwall; Yuri Ribeiro was sidelined with a hamstring problem and Harry Pickering was drafted in as his replacement. The visitors started the encounter with a higher tempo.
Sam Morsy slipped a ball through to captain Todd Cantwell inside the penalty area, prompting the first corner of the game when Cantwell’s shot was deflected and forced a corner kick that was taken by Daniel Bielica. Portsmouth, however, were the first to break the deadlock.
A cross from the left flank by Tyrese Shade was only partially cleared by Sean McLoughlin, and Zak Swanson pounced, volleying the ball past Blackburn keeper Balazs Toth to give the home side a 1-0 lead. The advantage was short‑lived. Just seven minutes later Oladapo Afolayan, who had already found the net in his previous two outings, struck again.
Pickering supplied a chipped ball from the centre of the park, Afolayan met it with a right‑footed finish that curled into the near post, restoring parity at 1-1. Bielica was called into action once more, scrambling away Afolayan’s follow‑up flick from close range. The ball then travelled the length of the field, and Ryan Kavuma‑McQueen attempted a powerful shot that sailed high and wide after a well‑crafted move that began with a 40‑yard diagonal switch from Madiodio Dia. In the second half, Blackburn began to assert themselves.
Abu Kamara, back in Portsmouth colours, saw a promising chance evaporate when Pickering timed a sliding challenge inside the penalty area, clearing the danger as the winger prepared to strike. Marlon Pack, Portsmouth’s captain, earned the match’s first yellow card for a tackle on Blackburn’s scorer Oladapo Afolayan just before the interval. After a ten‑minute spell of Portsmouth dominance early in the second half, the visitors finally took the lead for the first time in the game. Ryoya Morishita slotted a powerful effort into the far corner, a move set up by Afolayan, putting Blackburn ahead 2-1.
Mousinho’s injury woes deepened when Conor Shaughnessy, who had been forced off after an hour of play, limped off after pulling up unchallenged. Despite the setback, Portsmouth fought back. Substitute Colby Bishop, attempting to head the ball, inadvertently deflected Kavuma‑McQueen’s right‑footed effort into the net, earning a 2-2 draw.
Portsmouth continued to press for a winner, with Abu Kamara and Bishop both having opportunities to clinch the game in the closing stages, but neither could find the decisive goal. The points were ultimately shared, leaving both managers with mixed feelings as they head into the season’s first international break. John Mousinho reflected on the performance: "It was a frustrating afternoon. We went a goal up, controlled large portions of the match and still didn’t win.
We created chances but failed to convert, and we were annoyed by how we allowed the second goal. Maybe we had a bit of luck with our equaliser, but we could have taken all three points based on the chances we created.
We put in a lot of effort – that’s the bare minimum – but we needed more quality in both boxes at times." Tony Mowbray, Blackburn’s boss, summed up his side’s view: "We’ll take the point and move on to the next game. There’s some frustration because we should have been able to see the game out after taking the lead.
At our best we look like a very good football team, but today we gave Portsmouth too much respect, allowing them to settle into our attacking third too easily. I’m disappointed and frustrated – not just because we didn’t win, but because we didn’t hit the performance level we know we’re capable of.
Playing at Fratton is never easy; the atmosphere is intense. We need to improve our control, dominate more of the game, and finish stronger." The match also featured a reminder for fans to catch EFL games on their mobile devices and highlighted free Championship highlights available online.
Additionally, a promotional note invited readers to play the Super 6 competition for a chance to win £250,000, with entry offered at no cost. Overall, the encounter was a tightly contested affair, with both sides showing moments of quality and periods of vulnerability. Portsmouth’s resilience in coming back from a deficit, coupled with Blackburn’s ability to regain the lead, underscored the competitive nature of the Championship. The draw leaves both clubs with work to do, but also provides a platform to build upon as the season progresses.