Colby Bishop rescued Pompey with his first goal of the campaign in a back-and-forth 2-2 draw with Blackburn Rovers.

Bishop came off the bench to divert home Ryan Kavuma-McQueen’s drive with 16 minutes left and deliver a timely riposte to his critics after struggling in front of goal.

Pompey gave up their lead after Zak Swanson’s fourth-minute opener, with poor goals shipped to Oladapo Afolayan and Ryoya Morishita.

It was going against John Mousinho’s side with Conor Shaughnessy forced off injured, but then came Bishop’s intervention to ensure the spoils were shared.

Pompey conceded the first chance after just 22 seconds, as Daniel Bielica saved at the near post from Todd Cantwell.

The breakthrough came from the Blues after four minutes, however, as Jayden Meghoma’s cross from left was headed clear by Sean McLoughlin and Swanson reacted by guiding home a left-footed volley from just inside the box.

Pompey looked set to steamroll Blackburn but shipped a poor leveller in the 11th minute, as Marlon Pack allowed Dapo Afolayan to shoot from inside the box and Bielica was beaten far to easily at his near post.

Ryan Kavuma-McQueen was again lively and forced a stop from Balazs Toth before Bielica made a scruffy stop from Afolayan.

Pompey were pushing with Harry Pickering making a last-ditch tackle on Abu Kamara, before Kavuma-McQueen forced a fine save from Toth with a thumping drive at the end of the half.

Ebou Adams replaced Rocco Shein at the break as Pompey set about the visitors after the restart.

Segecic and Kavuma-McQueen saw their shots blocked in quick succession before Kamara was an inch away from a tap-in as Kavuma-McQueen’s angled drive was parried. Pack’s follow-up is blocked by Hayden Carter, before Toth saves well from Kavuma-McQueen’s blast inside the box.

Pompey then shipped a second goal against the run of play, as Bielica could only clear as far as Kristi Montgomery who fed Morishita who fired inside the far post.

Afolayan then drove his shot into the side-netting with the Blues creaking, before they were dealt another injury blow with Shaughnessy forced off.

Pompey were losing their way, but found a leveller with 16 minutes left, as Kavuma-McQueen’s perseverance saw him win the ball in the box and his drive was diverted in by Bishop’s left shoulder.

That saw the volume go up at Fratton, though it was Blackburn who then threatened with Bielica saving from Jayden Fevrier’s angled drive.

Pompey pushed for the winner through six minutes of stoppage time, with Meghoma’s drive from inside the box parried by Toth - but Mousinho’s men couldn’t find a way through.