PORTSMOUTH'S promotion party had to be put on hold following their shock home defeat by relegation threatened Sheffield Wednesday.

But the Champagne is on ice ahead of their game with Burnley tonight.

Victory for Harry Redknapp's side will take them back to the top of the table and ensure they will be in the Premiership for the first time and back in the top flight after an absence of 15 years.

The South Coast side have been leading the way in the first division virtually all season under the guidance of the experienced duo of Redknapp and Jim Smith.

But even with promotion all but guaranteed the manager showed he is not immune from jangling nerves with an outburst against a reporter after Saturday's 2-1 defeat.

A goal from Lee Bradbury had looked to be good enough to get the three points that were needed to deny Sheffield United the mathematical possibility that they could catch them.

But the other Sheffield side showed a bit of steel as they grabbed two late goals to guarantee the celebration had to be put on hold.

Pompey will not even need to win tonight if the Blades fail to beat Nottingham Forest at Bramall Lane in a match that kicks off at the same time.

Redknapp has a slight concern over the fitness of left wing-back Kevin Harper who himself has had to fill in for England Under-21 star Matthew Taylor who has been one of the club's best players this season following his move from Luton Town.

Harper went off at the weekend with a slight groin injury and he was forced to revert to four at the back instead of his preferred three.

As well as Taylor, Redknapp is having to cope without a couple of strikers, the Nigerian Yakubu and Frenchman Vincent Pericard. That has meant Lee Bradbury has returned to the club from a loan spell, scoring against Wednesday, the club he left.

Despite the injuries there is still a wealth of talent and experience within the side, not least in the shape of the irrepressible Paul Merson.

He has been in magnificent form all season, pulling the strings as he has done throughout a rollercoaster career at Arsenal, Middlesbrough and Aston Villa.

He will clearly pose a major threat to the Clarets tonight as will another former Villa star Steve Stone.