EWOOD chief Graeme Souness saluted his side's phenomenal spirit after their plucky fightback against Portsmouth took Rovers to the brink of the Premiership.

Rovers roared back from an early setback to wrap up a priceless 3-1 victory over struggling Pompey.

And now just one more win stands between Souness and a dream return to the top-flight. "I'm really happy for the players and the supporters because we dug in when we had to dig in and battled when we had to battle," said Souness.

"Whether we go up or not, I can't fault the players for the amount of effort they've put in this season -- but we're not there yet.

"It's so close now and yet so far away.

"We still have to win one more game and we're not going to rely on Sheffield United or Wolverhampton doing us any favours against Bolton.

"It's still all about what we do but what a great position to be in."

Pompey midfielder Mike Panopoulos had rocked Ewood to the core when he pounced on hesitant defending to fire the visitors into a 12th minute lead.

But Rovers kept their nerve and, after a Scott Hiley own goal handed them a second half lifeline, late goals from David Dunn and Marcus Bent wrapped up another precious victory.

"Some games you just feel like you're going to win and I just felt that we would get the goals we needed to win the game," said Souness.

"I didn't have to say a lot to them at half time. We were a goal down but they knew they hadn't done a lot wrong apart from the bad goal we gave away.

"They knew what they had to do to get the points." and I was proud of them for the way they went about it.

"The players showed a great determination to get a result.

"Portsmouth had a gameplan and frustrated us after getting the early break they were relying on.

"But we stuck to our gameplan as well.

"And I felt our third goal epitomised what we are all about.

"Matt Jansen jumped for the header, landed and then sprinted another five or six yards to get a block on a clearance which then dropped for Marcus Bent.

"I know we've scored prettier goals and more devastating goals but that typified what we were about yesterday and what we've been about for most of the season."

Souness also paid tribute to the club's supporters who played a crucial part in roaring the team to victory.

"That wasn't a celebration after the game -- that was us thanking the fans for their support because they've got behind the players all season and they did that especially yesterday because they knew how important it was," said Souness.

"Not for the first time this season, a team came to Ewood to frustrate us but they stuck with us and didn't get nervous. I think the fans appreciated the hard work the players have put in but we need their support for two more games yet."

"Wednesday's trip to Deepdale is going to be tough but it should be a cracking game. "Preston play the game the correct way, they'll come after us and we'll be going at them."

Meanwhile, Rovers rise under Souness was last night recognised by the rest of their First Division rivals when four players were named in the First Divsion PFA team of the season.

Matt Jansen, David Dunn, Damien Duff and Henning Berg were all selected by their fellow pros.

Duff could yet make a return to the first team fold at Deepdale on Wednesday after resuming training following a hamstring injury today.

And Alan Mahon could also push himself into the reckoning as well after his hamstring problem has responded to treatment.

"It's great to have Damien back because game like that yesterday would have been tailor made for him because he likes to take people on," said Souness.

By Andy Neild, of our sister paper the Lancashire Evening Telegraph