Poll in spotlight again

Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp hailed his side's character after a second-half comeback against Sheffield United - but referee Graham Poll again took centre stage.

Redknapp felt Pompey should have been awarded a penalty in the dying minutes when Sean Davis was hauled down in the area, but Poll waved play on.

The visitors had taken a fourth-minute lead through Rob Hulse's header and looked comfortable until the second half resumed.

Pompey levelled two minutes after the restart when Benjani Mwaruwari's cross was deflected in off Phil Jagielka, despite Rob Kuzluk's efforts on the line.

Blades boss Neil Warnock was upset with Poll for Sol Campbell's header which established the lead for Pompey.

"We were disappointed with two things - that a corner was given when it clearly came off the attacker," said Warnock.

"Then we were disappointed he didn't spot the block on Morgan which resulted in Campbell having a free header."

Redknapp admitted his players used a pick-and-roll style of blocking, deployed in basketball, to give Campbell room.

"We worked on that corner in training, the ball was good, we got a bit of a block off and he came in and got the header," said the Pompey boss.

"Linvoy (Primus) didn't foul him but the run has taken him past the defender very tightly."

Noe Pamarot extended the lead with another header from a corner to extend Pompey's unbeaten run to five matches.

"We came back well in the second half, being 1-0 down at half-time is never easy in the Premier League but we did it again and showed terrific character," added Redknapp.

"The players have done fantastically well and are on a good run carrying on from last season."

The home fans in the 20,164 crowd, a record this season for Fratton Park, sang about qualifying for Europe but Redknapp is not thinking that far ahead.

"We just keep carrying on and picking up points," he said of his ambitions.

Redknapp also thought his side should have had a penalty when Davis appeared to be fouled.

"It was a blatant penalty, the referee admitted it was a penalty as well," he said.

Warnock wanted to speak to Poll after the game and now wants clarification from referees' chief Keith Hackett about when he can speak to officials.

He said: "I've been to see him but he rushed off. We'll have to speak to Keith Hackett see about the possibility of a time they can stay because we are told (to wait) 30 minutes after the game - so we do a few cameras and go back and he's gone."

Warnock's team could have extended their lead after Hulse's strike. Danny Webber wasted their best chances when he seized on a mistake by Davis but blazed wide when he ran through on goal.

Warnock was encouraged by his side's first-half performance, and added: "I thought we played very well and could have been a couple up at half-time - their best move in the first half was a one-two with Mr Poll which nearly resulted in a goal."