Blackburn Rovers 1 Portsmouth 0

MARK Hughes's installation as the manager of Blackburn Rovers was supposed to signal the dawn of a new era.

But for a brief moment on Saturday it was just like the good old days as Ewood Park witnessed the return of not one but two of its most popular sons on an afternoon when Rovers finally got their season up and running.

Wind the clock back four years to a time when Rovers were chasing promotion from the First Division to the Premiership.

In those days, Hughes and Matt Jansen were a formidable double act together up front, wreaking havoc through a combination of courage and cunning.

Now the pair share a different relationship altogether but the end result was just as devastating as the two brilliantly combined to get Hughes's reign off to a dream start.

Few people were more delighted than Jansen when Hughes was formally unveiled as Blackburn's new manager last Thursday morning.

Under the previous regime, the 26-year-old had been callously discarded and left to rot in the reserves at Morecambe.

In fact, Jansen's career at Rovers had plummeted to such depths under Graeme Souness that he often found himself spending Saturday afternoons sat at home watching the Premiership results rolling in on Sky Sports with only his frustration for company.

That was a sad existence for a player who was on the verge of the England squad a little over two years ago.

But with no one to believe in him, Jansen's despair was growing with each passing week.

The final insult came as transfer deadline day loomed last month.

Souness, eager to free up some money in the wage bill, told Jansen he was prepared to let him go if a suitable offer came in and it was then that Celta Vigo registered their interest.

However, time constraints prevented a move to Spain from materialising and Jansen was left in limbo once again.

Then suddenly, completely out of the blue, Souness was on the move himself, thus paving the way for Hughes to return to the club he served so successfully as a player.

And one of the new manager's first acts was to call a meeting with his senior players on Friday, in which he was told of Jansen's plight.

Hughes's response was decisive. Sensing the need to repair his former strike partner's shattered confidence, he immediately reinstated him in the squad to face Pompey.

Then when Rovers were in need of fresh impetus midway through the second half of a game that was delicately poised, Hughes had the courage to throw Jansen into the fray - a managerial masterstroke that was to pay spectacular dividends.

There were just 12 minutes remaining when Lucas Neill embarked on a driving run towards the heart of the Portsmouth defence.

Spotting Jansen's clever movement, the Australian defender fed a ball into the striker, who had his back to goal 20 yards out.

What happened next was the stuff dreams are made of as Jansen spun on a sixpence, dug the ball out from under his feet, and unleashed a ferocious drive that flew beyond Shaka Hislop before exploding into the net.

Ewood was awash with emotion as all four corners of the ground rose to salute a special player who had clawed himself back from the brink.

Jansen's last goal in the first team came against Genclerbirligi in the UEFA Cup 11 months ago.

Since then he's been to Hell and back but now he's playing for a manager who believes in him again.

"I played with Matt a few years ago so I know the ability he has," said a delighted Hughes.

"Obviously, he's had a period where his career hasn't gone as well as he would have liked but today I hoped he'd come on and make an impact and thankfully for himself and the team he did, so I'm delighted for him.

"It's been a difficult time for Matt but he's come through it and hopefully this is a stepping stone for him."

If Jansen's resurrection is a sign of things to come under Hughes then Rovers could well be onto a winner.

A new direction was needed after things had gone stale under Souness and Hughes is just the type of forward-thinking modernist who can lead the club into previously uncharted waters.

The 40-year-old is a hugely impressive individual. Authoritative without raising his voice, he commands instant respect.

And where the previous regime fell down in the past, the ability to man-manage is one of Hughes's biggest strengths.

Even referees seem to like Rovers all of a sudden now there's a new man at the helm.

In the dying seconds on Saturday, Brad Friedel clearly flattened Ricardo Fuller in the penalty area with the ball nowhere in sight.

But instead of pointing to the spot, Mark Clattenburg amazingly booked Fuller for diving!

Now that wouldn't have happened a fortnight ago.

It would have been a grave injustice, however, had Pompey snatched a point in such dramatic fashion.

Rovers had called most of the shots in a game that took a while to catch fire and they fully deserved the three points for a spirited, workmanlike performance that was brought to life by Jansen's strike.

Hughes's Premiership debut as a manager could hardly have gone any better.

A first win of the season, a first clean sheet and the resurgence of a player who had lost his way in the world constitute a decent start.

But the current Wales manager is under no illusions that plenty of hard work still lies ahead.

There were times in the first half in particular when Rovers lacked a cutting edge going forward and there's also room for improvement in a back four that has leaked 11 goals in six games so far.

Barry Ferguson and Jon Stead both shot wide and a timely interception from Dejan Stefanovic prevented Stead from turning in a Michael Gray cross at the near post in a tentative first half.

Pompey always looked menacing on the break, though, and after Fuller had struck the outside of a post, Patrick Berger then forced a sharp save out of Friedel with a 20-yard pile-driver on the stroke of half time.

Rovers emerged with more purpose after the interval.

Lorenzo Amoruso had a free kick saved, Brett Emerton saw a shot deflected wide, and a slick piece of play from Jay Bothroyd, who impressed as a second half sub, ended in the striker firing another effort inches over.

Amid all that came a golden chance for Aiyegbeni Yakubu when Dominic Matteo got himself in a tangle but the Nigerian blasted wastefully over with only Friedel to beat.

That proved the turning point as Rovers manufactured a winner six minutes later, Jansen pirouetting on the edge of the box before unleashing a rocket past Hislop.

The relief among players and fans alike was tangible but then in the 88th minute 19,000 hearts stopped beating for a couple of seconds as Friedel sent Fuller sprawling in the area.

It looked like a certain penalty but instead Fuller was booked for diving.

Maybe, just maybe, Rovers' luck is about to change for the better.