Burnley 1 Portsmouth 2: Jensen convinced Burnley can survive

BURNLEY goalkeeper Brian Jensen is convinced the club can pick up the pieces following the latest shattering "self-inflicted" defeat.

The Clarets suffered only their third loss of the season at Turf Moor yesterday, losing 2-1 to a rock-bottom Portsmouth side that played with "free spirit" according to Jensen.

Pompey became the first Premier League club to enter administration on Friday, and Jensen feels that alleviated some of their pressure.

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However, it was not Portsmouth, but captain Clarke Carlisle who was Burnley's main adversary as he gave away two second-half penalties.

Jensen managed to save the first of those in the 55th minute from Jamie O'Hara, but he could do nothing about the second 20 minutes later, being sent the wrong way by Hassan Yebda.

"I was hoping my first would have given us at least a point, but sadly it didn't, and now we just have to crack on," said Jensen. "In the end the defeat was self inflicted, but I don't want to comment on that.

"We know we're in trouble. We just have to turn it around, and away from home. It's a must, and it's what we have to now work on. As long as we stay together, stay strong, then we will do our very best to stay in this league.

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"I'm sure we will bounce back, get even stronger, get some points away from home as well.

"The table is still tight, and yes we're still down there where we don't want to be, so we can only look up. We've still a good chance. We've six home games remaining, and a lot of points to play for."

They are the kind of words you would expect to hear from any player whose side are one place off the foot of the table after a run of one victory in the last 16 league matches, and are without an away win all season. Boss Brian Laws is struggling to galvanise his players at a time when the stakes are high, and being raised all the time with each game that passes.

The boos that followed the final whistle were long and vociferous as Burnley's loyal fans vented their anger and frustration.

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"The supporters are disappointed because they have seen us shoot ourselves in the foot, and you can't get away from that," remarked Laws. "They knew we were in a strong position, and yet we've thrown it away."

Portsmouth captain David James, meanwhile, is hoping to be given the chance to see out the season at the club, suggesting he would take a pay cut if it helped ease the crisis of administration.

The future of every single Pompey player hangs in the balance as no-one knows what actions administrator Andrew Andronikou will take to alleviate Pompey's 78million debt.

If he is allowed to sell players, James is likely to be one of the first out of the door as he is almost certain to be one of the most highly paid.

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"There is a sigh of relief in some respects that we've gone into administration as opposed to liquidation," said James. "It keeps the club in the community, keeps the players here, and despite the fact the money issues are still there, it gives us a chance to keep playing.

"As for me, I want to stay at Portsmouth until the end of the season and be part of the most incredible recovery ever."

If Pompey are deducted the nine points this week, they will find themselves 14 adrift of safety, and all but down and out.

James added: "Someone said we needed 10 wins out of 12. Well now we have one of them."