ROQUE Santa Cruz kept Rovers' dreams of playing in Europe next season with his sixth goal in seven matches and 22nd of the season as Rovers claimed a late victory at Fratton Park.

Santa Cruz played a one-two with former Pompey striker Jason Roberts before firing past goalkeeper Jamie Ashdown, deputising for England's David James who was out with a calf injury.

Up front Pompey lacked teeth with only Jermain Defoe looking likely to score, having a goal disallowed for offside.

It was a 22nd goal of the season for the lethal Paraguayan - his sixth in the last seven matches - and a typical finish.

Ashdown had resisted Santa Cruz's aerial challenge by punching clear but when Pedersen gathered the ball and passed it to the striker and his give-and-go with Roberts took him clear to drill home.

It could have been two soon afterwards but the luckless Ashdown made another good save to defy Roberts, who unleashed a fierce shot on the run.

Pompey's efforts renewed when Chris Samba had to hobble off after an attempted slide tackle on Kranjcar but Andre Ooijer came on and Rovers comfortably held out.