Pompey Euro dreams Poll-axed by ref’s error

PORTSMOUTH’S brave bid for a UEFA Cup place came up short as referee Graham Poll, in his last Premiership match, disallowed a 68th-minute effort for offside when Niko Kranjcar’s shot appeared to go in off Arsenal’s Philippe Senderos.

Pompey huffed and puffed in search of a late winner but it was all in vain as a young Arsenal side dug in to earn a point that should have been in their pockets well before half-time.

Arsenal’s on-loan Brazilian striker Julio Baptista had enough chances to bury Portsmouth’s ambitions in the first-half but his 40th-minute penalty was superbly saved by David James.