Burnley's 2-0 defeat at Fratton Park condemned them to their seventh defeat in eight games away from Turf Moor; recording just a single point at Eastlands against Manchester City.

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But the Clarets will be kicking themselves for not taking the three points back to East Lancashire.

It wasn't a case of not performing well, it was a case of lacking a ruthless edge in front of goal. The Clarets controlled the first half and were the most deserving and most likely side to break the deadlock after the interval.

McDonald's stinging drive from 20 yards forced Begovic into a great save as he somehow managed to tip the effort, destined for his top left corner, over the woodwork.

Almost immediately after Steven Fletcher was played into the area and from a tight angle he just pulled his shot wide of the far post.

The Clarets continued to press and looked to have their rewards when record-signing Steven Fletcher hit a looping effort from distance, which he caught well on the bounce, towards the far corner. However, Begovic somehow managed to scramble back and produce a sublime save to tip the ball round the post.

But then came the breakthrough despite a hint of handball and a further hint of offside. Kevin-Prince Boateng played the ball into Dindane, who appeared to control with his arm, before sliding the ball into Hreidersson to drill home.

Burnley continued to push forward but they were punished from another set-piece. Jamie O'Hara, a thorn in Burnley's side during Spurs' 4-1 win in the first leg of last season's Carling Cup semi-final, whipped in the free-kick after Mears had felled Dindane and it was the latter who picked himself up to head in unmarked at the far post.

It was the first time in an away game that Burnley hadn't conceded before the interval - but that could and should have been different courtesy of a very controversial penalty decision from referee Phil Dowd and a convincing dive from Pompey defender Herman Hreidersson.

However, justice was done when Aruna Dindane side-footed the resulting spot kick without any conviction low to Jensen's left and the Dane guessed correctly.

Earlier in the game Dindane had squandered another great great chance for Avram Grant's men. An in-swinging cross from the left found the striker in acres of space in front of goal but he was unable to get the ball under control.

But the Clarets weren't without chances of their own. Wade Elliott, who has adopted a role wide on the right, caused Hreidersson problems for a majority of the opening exchanges and carved open the Pompey defence with ease.

His ball into the box found Fletcher just outside the six-yard box after Ben Haim had slipped but the Scot scuffed the opportunity and the ball rolled harmlessly into the hands of Begovic.

Bikey headed agonisingly over the bar from a Robbie Blake corner, Fletcher had a shot deflected into the side netting and Elliott dragged a shot wide of the post as Burnley bombarded the home side's 18-yard box.

It will be hard to take the result on the chin after the Clarets controlled the game but Coyle will now look to pick his players up for the next fixture on Saturday against Fulham at Turf Moor.

It was undeserving but the final score from Fratton Park is Portsmouth 2 Burnley 0.

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