Redknapp rues decision

REDKNAPP'S VIEW Portsmouth 0-1 Everton

Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp was philosophical, despite the controversial free-kick ruling that led to Everton's winner at Fratton Park.

Diomansy Kamara was judged to have fouled Tony Hibbert and Thomas Gravesen crossed for Tim Cahill to head home.

He said: "Kamara was on the break and it looked like a decent challenge to me but from being on the break, suddenly we're defending a free-kick.

"But sometimes you get them and sometimes you don't."

Redknapp said he felt his side had done enough to earn a point from the game before Cahill's 80th-minute winner.

"It was always hard, it was a difficult game. We found it hard to get anything going," he added.

"I thought it was petering out into a draw and I could not see a goal coming.

"But I thought before the game that if they were going to score it would be from a set-play. They're a big side with lots of good headers of the ball."

Redknapp backed his side to bounce back strongly from the disappointment of defeat.

"You are not going to win every game. On paper we have had a decent start," he stated.

"When we go to Norwich next weekend that will be a tough game. It's a long hard season for every team that's not in the top four.

"We have got to pick ourselves up. It's all about how you recover from a defeat. Fans have seen nothing but good in the last two years but they know there will be a couple more defeats this season."