Portsmouth clinched promotion to the Barclaycard 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.

Burnley - with just one win in nine games - should have made Merson pay the penalty a few minutes later but 15-goal top scorer Gareth Taylor planted his header wide from Robbie Blake's precise free-kick.

Merson attempted to make amends and 10 minutes prior to the break his lob fell just wide following a fine flowing move before an ambitious 35-yard strike was comfortably saved by visiting goalkeeper Nik Michopoulos.

Nigel Quashie had a better opportunity just before half-time, but was denied by a fine block by Michopoulos.

The Greek 'keeper came to his side's rescue again on the hour, foiling Lee Bradbury from close range before tipping over Arjan De Zeeuw's drive.

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.

Teams:

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.

Goals: 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.

Att: 19,221

Ref: B Curson (Leicestershire).