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With Paul Gascoigne and Glen Little starting on the bench Stan went for a powerful midfield rather than a pretty one and it looked to have paid off in the first half as the Clarets dominated from the start.
DJ and Ian Moore were again looking a lively combination and it was Johnson who gave the Clarets the lead on 20 minutes when he reacted fastest to a quick Lee Briscoe free kick. Cutting inside a defender he curled a right footed shot into the top corner from the left hand edge of the box to give Beasant no chance.
Only moments later Burnley had an escape when a free kick from Prosinecki hit the post but generally speaking we were able to keep Pompey at arms length in the first 45 minutes.
DJ was through again but fired over the bar and Arthur Gnohere might have done better with a header from a corner but the Clarets were satisfied with being 1-0 up at the break.
In the second half the Clarets elected to play deeper though they were not helped when Tony Grant limped off after 50 minutes to be replaced by Gordon Armstrong.
As you would expect from the home side Pompey came at the Clarets and it began to look only a matter of time before they would score. Prosinecki looked dangerous whenever there was a free kick and twice Todorov missed 2 clearcut chances.
Paul Gascoigne came on for Paul Weller on 68 minutes but could not stop Portsmouth grabbing the equaliser. On 75 minutes Pitt's cross from the left caused confusion between Nik and the defence which allowed Todorov to nip in and roll the ball into the net from a tight angle.
After that both sides had chances to win the game. DJ had a shot blocked and then looked like he was going to win the game with a free header 6 yards out but it drifted narrowly wide.
A draw was probably a fair result though they are always harder to take when you have led for so long.
The good thing was that only Norwich and Wimbledon out of the potential play off challengers won meaning that the Clarets retained 4th spot.
Realistically there are now 7 clubs chasing the 3 remaining play off places and, if Wimbledon win their game in hand, these teams will be separated by only 3 points.
At this stage of the season it could hardly be closer and a win over Gillingham next Saturday looks an absolute must for the Clarets.
Further reports to follow.