ON the day one of the stars of 'The Apprentice' began his new job with Blackburn Rovers, a wily sorcerer provided a reality check at Ewood Park.

Adam Hosker, the former car salesman from Blackburn who famously appeared in the last series of the BBC's reality television show, might have made his debut as Rovers' new pitch-side announcer, but it was the veteran Portsmouth striker Nwankwo Kanu who ultimately cast his spell here.

One moment of magic from the 31-year-old conjurer proved enough to condemn Rovers to their first Premiership defeat since Aston Villa beat them on April 7, but Mark Hughes' side helped to contribute to their own downfall during what was an instantly forgettable performance.

The week had begun with several members of the Rovers camp talking excitedly about the possibility of breaking into the Premiership's top four but, after a desperately disappointing defeat in Greece in the UEFA Cup on Thursday brought everyone crashing back down to earth with a bang, Harry Redknapp's Portsmouth then administered a further damaging blow in the Premiership.

Pompey, who are another side with lofty ambitions, were good value for this victory, their first away from Fratton Park in the Premiership since they defeated West Ham 2-1 on Boxing Day last year.

Kanu, the man with the elastic limbs, proved to be his side's matchwinner, yet the reality is the margin of Portsmouth's victory would have been even more emphatic had it not been for Brad Friedel, who offered brave resistance.

Having seen his side previously go 15 matches unbeaten in all competitions, successfully competing with the likes of Arsenal and Chelsea, Hughes must feel slightly bewildered by the events of the last five days.

Two games; two defeats; a couple of uncharacteristic defensive errors; and barely a couple of shots on target was not what the Welshman was looking for after what had been a promising start to the season before that.

"We are disappointed because we know we are a better team than we showed today," said the Rovers boss.

"We had a good opening period in the first 20 minutes and if we'd have scored then there would have been a different pattern to the game, to be honest.

"But we didn't get the goal and, obviously, defensively we were very poor for their goal.

"We had a warning just prior to it, so to let Kanu in again was very disappointing from our point of view."

Rovers looked every inch a side that was suffering from a European hangover.

Aside from the result against Larissa, the four hour flight to Greece also appeared to have taken its toll on the players, judging by the flat performance they served up here.

There was no spark or imagination about Rovers' play going forward, and too often the final ball lacked quality, a theme that became increasingly frustrating the longer the afternoon wore on.

In fairness to Portsmouth, Sol Campbell and his sentries defended magnificently, comfortably snuffing out what little threat Rovers posed on the day, and aside from Roque Santa Cruz, who worked tirelessly up front despite the dearth of quality service, it was hard to see where an equaliser might come from.

David Bentley and Morten Gamst Pedersen, in particular, flattered to deceive down the flanks, and Benni McCarthy seems to have momentarily lost his Midas touch.

The one decent chance that came his way, he skied into the Blackburn End.

Ryan Nelsen's absence was also felt at the back, as was evident in the kamikaze minute or so leading up to Kanu's goal.

All in all, it was a disjointed Rovers performance that lacked the usual intensity the fans have come to expect at Ewood Park.

Eager to make amends for their failings in Greece the other night, Rovers actually made a purposeful start and, with a little more composure in front of goal, might have taken an early lead.

A speedy breakaway involving Bentley and Santa Cruz ended with the latter striking the crossbar with a header, and in the melee that followed, Pedersen appeared to get flattened in the area, but referee Chris Foy thought otherwise.

Another deep Bentley cross moments later then led to a shooting chance for McCarthy, but the South African, who was brilliantly teed-up by Pedersen, scooped his effort high and wide.

At that point, Rovers were firmly on top, and Bentley blazed over from another inviting position following more smart work from the industrious Santa Cruz.

But, gradually, Portsmouth began to settle into their elegant stride, and only an outstanding double save from Friedel prevented Kanu from snatching the lead in the 23rd minute.

Chris Samba and his defensive colleagues completely switched off when John Utaka delivered an inswinging cross from the right, leaving Kanu all on his own 10 yards out.

The Nigerian had time and space to pick his spot with a header, but Friedel was equal to it, and he then bounced back to his feet to repel the follow-up.

Kanu wasn't to be denied, though, and he pierced Rovers' flimsy-looking rearguard again barely sixty seconds later.

Sulley Muntari delivered the ball from deep, Papa Bouba Diop outjumped two defenders in an aerial challenge, and Kanu then latched on to his flick, advancing menacingly into the area.

The spindly striker still had plenty to do, but he casually brushed off Samba and then skilfully rounded Friedel, before gathering his composure and squeezing a clever finish between the near post and Samba, who had retreated to the goal-line.

That goal knocked the stuffing out of Rovers and they became increasingly desperate in their quest for an equaliser from that point onwards.

An embarrassing mix-up between Samba and Friedel almost presented Kanu with a second at the beginning of the second half.

Then Diop somehow managed to shoot wide from barely six yards out after Benjani Mwaruwari had breezed past Andre Ooijer far too easily.

In the meantime, Rovers' only threat came from the occasional set-piece, but Samba failed to get a telling connection on an inswinging Bentley free-kick.

Then Bentley himself curled another effort a yard wide of James' right-hand post.

James was finally tested for the first time in the 74th minute, but even then Santa Cruz's drive from distance lacked the power to seriously trouble him.

Portsmouth might have nicked another on the break when Matthew Taylor found himself free in the area, but Friedel excelled himself again.

As it was, a solitary strike from the sorcerer proved enough.