BLACKBURN Rovers boss Mark Hughes hailed his battling team as they made it seven wins in a row to progress through to the last eight of the Carling Cup after a 2-1 away win over Portsmouth.

A goal in each half from Benni McCarthy and Morten Gamst Pedersen put Rovers well on their way to a place in the quarter-finals, although Kanu's late header took some gloss off the evening's work.

Speaking after the game, Mark Hughes praised the effort that his much-changed squad put in this evening against Portsmouth: "It is still early in the season but we are doing okay, in fact we are doing more than okay.

"It has been a tremendous effort by everyone and the spirit that we have within the squad was there for all to see for tonight.

"We disappointed a very strong and powerful Portsmouth side and I thought we did so well that they became a little disillusioned late on, and felt there was nothing for them possibly.

"We had strong performances all over the pitch, and the way the spirit is means that you can change the personnel from time to time without it causing any undue disruption.

"This is a hard place to come and get results, but I thought we fully merited the win. It was great to see Morten get his name on the scoresheet again and I think the goal will do him the power of good."