Burnley 1-2 Portsmouth
Portsmouth FC: a good win after a bad week
Also In The News
|
By Tom Powell. |  |
Saturday, 27, Feb 2010 04:32
By James Christie.
Portsmouth ended the week in which they went into administration on a positive note with a 2-1 away victory at Turf Moor after Burnley's former Countdown champion Clarke Carlisle gave away two penalties.
Burnley were still trying to shake off the disappointment of having a goal disallowed for offside when Pompey took the lead after 25 minutes; Frederic Piquionne touching a Danny Webber cross into the net from an unmarked position near to goal.
The home side equalised in the 31st minute when Steven Paterson's brilliant lob beat Portsmouth goalkeeper David James - a player whose latest fashion look involves a white headband and a large afro.
Jamie O'Hara nearly snatched a half-time lead for the Turf Moor team but his curling left-foot effort hit the bar and the lurking Danny Fox's follow-up shot was cleared off the line.
Portsmouth were awarded a penalty in the second half when Clark Carlisle, a recent star in the TV game show Countdown, was adjudged to have fouled Piquionne. Carlisle's mouthed reaction to the decision (an anagram of 'fcuk') showed his surprise at the verdict but Brian Jensen saved Jamie O'Hara's spot kick.
Carlisle then puzzlingly gave away a second penalty in the 76th minute when he fouled John Utaka. This time O'Hara was not trusted with the spot-kick and his penalty-taking replacement Hassan Yebda might have the job for keeps after scoring from 12 yards.
Pompey's Ricardo Rocha was sent off in injury time but his club held on for an against-the-odds victory.
At St Andrews a James McFadden penalty was enough to give Birmingham victory over Wigan.
Birmingham had the first clear-cut chance, Liam Ridgewell heading powerfully against the bar.
At the other end, the Bluenoses' keeper Joe Hart, perhaps distracted by talk of him making the England squad, fumbled a corner but saw his defence clear the danger.
England's forgotten goalkeeper Chris Kirkland made a great save for Wigan as Titus Bramble almost put through his own goal as half-time loomed.
But Wigan conceded a goal in first-half stoppage time when Mario Melchiot was contentiously adjudged to have fouled Keith Fahey as the Brum player had his back to goal. James McFadden stepped up to despatch the penalty.
Kirkland prevented another goal with a parry from a Hugo Rodallega effort but Wigan succumbed to defeat after failing to take advantage of seven minutes of injury time awarded when the linesman sustained a head injury after an accident involving the corner flag.
At the Reebok Stadium, Bolton moved out of the bottom three after beating Wolves 1-0.
Defeat means Wolves only avoid going into the relegation zone by virtue of having superior goal difference to Wolves.
The home side deservedly took the lead in first-half injury time through Zat Knight side-footing home a Chung Yong Lee cross from inside the six-yard box - his first goal of the season.
David Jones (with a 25-yard free kick) and Kevin Foley both hit the post as Wolves vainly chased an equaliser in the second half.