FULL-TIME: Burnley 1-2 Portsmouth (From Lancashire Telegraph)

FULL-TIME: Burnley 1-2 Portsmouth

4:56pm Saturday 27th February 2010

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By Sam Lee »

Burnley have been beaten by fellow strugglers Portsmouth in a match they simply had to win.

The Clarets had only themselves to blame for the defeat after gifting the bottom-of-the-table side two second-half penalties.

It was a successful week off-the-pitch for Clarke Carlisle after his Countdown heroics but he was at fault for both spot-kicks after he was posed with two further tea-time teasers.

Frederic Piquionne earned his side’s first penalty 10 minutes into the second half when he gave Carlisle another conundrum and was brought down just inside the box.

But Burnley got lucky and Jamie O’Hara’s blast was saved by Brian Jensen down to his left.

However, the Clarets were not to get a second reprieve.

From a throw-in deep in their own half the ball was presented to Carlisle in his own box to clear the danger, but instead of off-loading the ball he attempted to dribble past two Pompey attackers.

He was dispossessed and as he tried to win the ball back he brought down John Utaka and referee Mark Clattenburg was left with no choice but to point to the spot.

Jamie O’Hara relinquished his duties after missing earlier but Hassan Yebda made no such error; he sent Jensen the wrong way and put the ball high into the right-hand side of the net.

Steven Fletcher missed a golden opportunity for the home side on the hour mark when he headed Tyrone Mears’ cross over the bar with the goal at his mercy after he was left unmarked by the visiting centre backs.

Danny Fox went five minutes later when he cut inside Yebda on he left, but his effort flashed across David James’ goal and went just wide.

Frenchman Piquionne had opened the scoring for Portsmouth 25 minutes into the match when he turned home Danny Webber’s low cross at the far post. It was a rare away goal for Portsmouth and he showed his delight by embracing the travelling supporters.

But Martin Paterson’s second Premier League goal got his side back on level terms 15 minutes before the break.

Jensen pumped forward a long free-kick that was won in the air by Fletcher, and the Scotsman’s flick-on fell to compatriot Paterson who artistically flicked the ball over David James’ head and into the back of the net.

Both sides had efforts ruled out for offside with the match goalless, first when Danny Webber turned home Nadir Belhadj’s cross and then when Flecther met Kevin McDonald’s flick-on, although replays suggested he may have been level with the Portsmouth right back.

Jamie O’Hara came closest to adding to the scores late in the first half but his magnificent left-footed curling effort just before the break crashed down off the crossbar with Jensen well beaten.

Jack Cork was introduced just after the hour when he replaced Andre Bikey to make his home debut after acquitting himself well at Villa Park last weekend.

Two late free kicks, one from Chris Eagles and one from Danny Fox, gave the home side good opportunities to get back into the game but both were wasted.

And even after the injury-time dismissal of Ricardo Rocha following his foul on Cork the Clarets could not capitalise.

The defeat is a huge blow to Burnley’s hopes of survival, especially after Brian Laws’ call for victories against the teams in and around them in the table in his pre-match programme notes.

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