Source: Telegraph
Burnley 1 Portsmouth 2: match report
It was a suitable microcosm of their season. At 1-1, there was the hope after they were awarded a penalty and after Jamie O'Hara was denied by Brian Jensen, the crushing reality of the bigger picture. [LNB]But for once that did not tell the whole story, with Hassan Yebda scoring when another chance came from the spot. Could this story really have a happy ending? [LNB] Related ArticlesPortsmouth administrator: police may be called inPremier League actionPortsmouth crisis: timelinePremier League tableTelegraph player raterPremier League fixturesAdministration, running costs being 'cut to the bone', certain relegation, a penalty missed, uncertainty following uncertainty. After being handed over to administrator Andrew Andronikou on Friday, they looked like they had chucked away two more points in Lancashire, with a nine-point penalty set to follow next week. Twas ever thus for poor old Portsmouth. [LNB]On the scale of things, with relegation to the Championship looking even more certain, O'Hara's wastefulness demonstrated the kind of profligacy that Portsmouth will now forever be associated with. [LNB]But the pattern did not run the way we have learned to expect. With outgoing chief executive Peter Storrie making up a quarter of Portsmouth's contingent in the directors' box, Belhadj's penalty gave the visiting fans belief that they could somehow manage to stay in the Premier League. [LNB]They certainly deserved their victory against a Burnley team that look like they too will be heading for the Championship after sticking to their budget in their only season in the top flight. [LNB]Burnley have had their hardships as a town, and as a football club, and did not revel in Portsmouth's tendency for misfortune but they certainly took advantage of it, though they were hamstrung by the efforts of captain Clarke Carlisle. [LNB]The defender appeared on Countdown last week, winning two shows before losing on Friday, and went under the name Cralek Scilarel on the team-sheet but unfortunately his performance let him down. [LNB]Portsmouth took the lead when Danny Webber's cross picked out Frederic Piquionne at the far post and he stabbed in. [LNB]But Burnley almost immediately responded when Brian Jensen's long clearance was flicked on by Stephen Fletcher and Martin Paterson lifted the ball over the onrushing David James to pull the hosts level. [LNB]After the restart, Carlisle chopped Piquionne down just inside the area only for O'Hara to have his penalty blocked by Jensen. [LNB]The singing continued, however, and when all looked lost, another opportunity arose when Carlisle's hesitation in the area led to the defender having to pull down John Utaka. This time, Belhadj took the kick and sent Jensen the wrong way to put Portsmouth in front. [LNB]Portsmouth also did their best to be generous, with Ricardo Rocha earning a second yellow card in the final minute but Burnley only threatened with a couple of free kicks and Burnley's poor run was extended to just one victory in their last 16 league matches. [LNB]
