Blackburn's unbeaten start to the Premiership campaign came to a disappointing end with a 1-0 home defeat to Portsmouth.
Other than a Roque Santa Cruz header which hit the Pompey woodwork early in the first half, Blackburn for all their possession rarely threatened the visitor's goal.
The only goal of the game came in the 23rd minute when Kanu powered his way through the Rovers defence to stroke home.
But today their best start to a season ended in a lacklustre display which coming after the midweek shock defeat in Europe to Greek side Larissa has given the Rovers chief plenty to think about ahead of Wednesday's Carling Cup game with Birmingham.
"We had a good opening period for the first twenty minutes. If we had scored then there would have been a different pattern to the game.
"We didn't get the goal and defensively we where poor for their goal after having an early warning moments before, so to let Kanu score was disappointing.
"Portsmouth a goal up meant a perfect game plan for them. They came here to frustrate us and get men behind the ball. In fairness to them their back four were rock solid today and we didn't have the craft or the guile to break them down and create chances.
"No complaints really; there wasn't quite the intensity to our play that was needed and that might have something to do with the European game in midweek but I don't want to use that as excuse but it did take the edge of our play."