POMPEY boss Kenny Jackett praised the instinctive finishing of Adam Armstrong as Rovers left Fratton Park with all three points.

Armstrong struck his second of the game, and third in two matches, with three minutes to go to ensure Rovers took all three points back to East Lancashire.

His first had Rovers ahead midway through the first-half, firing in to the top corner with a half volley before his winner saw him find the bottom corner as Matt Clarke failed to deal with a Darragh Lenihan cross.

The hosts had looked well set for a point, only to falter late on, as Rovers hung on despite ending the game with 10 men.

“There was a high number of chances. At times I thought we were trying to knock the door down and not unlock it,” Jackett said.

“We were unlucky to lose the game overall but Armstrong was clinical on two occasions. The second one came off Matt Clarke’s second leg somehow – and he didn’t need a second invitation.

“We had momentum at times but it looked like it was petering out for a draw.”

Pompey never built up ahead of steam after Conor Chaplin’s equaliser five minutes in to the second half.

And having fallen to a late defeat, which leaves his side four points outside of the play-offs, Jackett told the Portsmouth News: “The result is what it is.

“That’s the way it is at the end of the day, but I felt we were unfortunate. We played at a good pace and created chances. I was pleased with the attitude.

“When you look at their squad they have every club in the bag.

“It’s a good result for them, but my players tried and showed good passion for the club and the shirt.

“We put a lot of pressure on the opposition and showed good heart and spirit.

“Ultimately, the bottom line is we lost the game, so we’re disappointed about that. But it’s a situation where our players showed plenty of passion and spirit.

“They showed passion for the shirt and created a high number of chances.’

“When Blackburn get moving it’s hard to get back with them. They make the right moves and the right decisions. Some of ours broke down.”