ENGLISH LEAGUE/Portsmouth ... 1 Burnley ... 0: Portsmouth last night clinched promotion to the English Premiership with a single goal victory over Burnley at Fratton Park.
Bulgarian striker Svetoslav Todorov grabbed the winner 17 minutes from time to become the club's first player since Guy Whittingham to score 20 goals in a season.
The goal finally arrived after Harry Redknapp's side - knocked off the top by Leicester on Saturday for the first time since August - squandered numerous chances to go ahead.
None more so than former England international Paul Merson, who crashed his 12th-minute spot-kick against the crossbar after Gianluca Festa had been fouled by Burnley's Dean West.
Nigel Quashie had a better opportunity just before half-time, but was denied by a fine block by Michopoulos.
Todorov then struck a fierce shot wide but he finally broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute, slotting home Quashie's cross before being booked for his celebration with the fans.
It began party scenes at Fratton Park as Pompey ended a 15-year wait to return to the top flight and at the same time moved two points clear of Leicester - with both teams having four games remaining - in the race for the title.
PORTSMOUTH: Hislop, Primus, Foxe, De Zeeuw, Festa, Stone, Sherwood, Merson, Quashie, Bradbury (Pericard 70), Todorov. Subs Not Used: Kawaguchi, Harper, O'Neil, Diabate. Booked: Festa, Todorov. Goal: Todorov 73.
BURNLEY: Michopoulos, West, Gnohere (Chaplow 82), Stephen Davis, McGregor, Branch, Papadopoulos (Maylett 8), Blake, Weller, Ian Moore, Taylor, Maylett (O'Neill 53). Subs Not Used: Armstrong, Pilkington. Booked: Stephen Davis.
Referee: B Curson (Leicestershire)
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