LOAN star David Johnson's fourth goal in five games was not enough to give the Clarets a priceless victory at Portsmouth yesterday afternoon.

And Burnley boss Stan Ternent pointed the finger of blame at keeper Nik Michopoulos for the goal that cost his side two points.

"Niko should have done better with that and I told him so," said Ternent. "But that is a good point for us, there are another nine for us to play for and it is in our own hands.

"We are another point closer towards our target and Portsmouth is not an easy place to come to.

"Tony Grant tired and a few players looked a bit leggy. We have played two matches in 48 hours and it is a long way to come from where we are.

"The number of games we have had takes its toll but we have Gillingham on Saturday and we just have to try and win it."

There is no more experienced manager than Ternent to cope with the inevitable nerves at this crunch time of the season and after enduring the tension yesterday he admitted: "We expect nerves now but I am long enough in the tooth to cope."

The Burnley boss felt his side surrendered the advantage given to them by Johnson's ealry goal because they defended too deep in the second half but claimed: "That is understandable.

"We had the best of the first half, they were better in the second half and perhaps we should have taken the bull by the horns. But we had enough chances really."

Ternent had opted to withdraw Ian Moore from the attack and play Johnson as a lone striker from the 57th minute, five minutes after Tony Grant had made way for the more defensive minded Gordon Armstrong.

The third sub Paul Gascoigne had a positive impact in the last quarter of the game but could not help find the winner that would have created some much needed breathing space over the teams immediately below them.

Pompey would love to be involved in the battle for the play-offs but after a sorry season can only dream about better days from next August.

The new manager at the south coast club is Harry Redknapp. Yesterday was his first home game in charge, having replaced Graham Rix last week, and he has little doubt that Burnley will be back at Fratton Park next season.

"I don't think Burnley will go up," he admitted. "I think it will be Birmingham against Wolves or West Brom in the play-off final at Cardiff."

Burnley's destiny is still very much in their own hands but they don't need telling how important Saturday's match against Gillingham is.

The chasing pack is getting ever closer, their breath hot on Burnley necks.

Away from the football, Ternent was unwilling to be drawn on the clash between Paul Weller and Robert Prosinecki where the Croatian World Cup star appeared to spit at the Burnley player in the first half.

The two men jostled each other as they went off at the interval but he said: "You had better talk to thier people about that."

The Burnley coaching staff certainly appeared to be incensed by the incident but it looks as if that will be the end of it.