Ten-man Town unluckily crashed out of the FA Cup after losing 1-0 at home to Portsmouth, despite dominating much of the game. Pompey, whose goal was scored by sub David Nugent, were given a massive helping hand by referee Mark Halsey's bizarre first half red-carding of Liam Trotter.

The Blues lined-up without skipper Jason De Vos due to a rib injury, while Jon Walters dropped out at the last minute because of a flu bug. Fabian Wilnis returned for the Canadian in central defence and Billy Clarke made a rare start up front. Otherwise, it was the same side which defeated West Brom on New Year's Day with Alan Lee left on the bench due to his achilles injury.

Former Blue Hermann Hreidarsson came close to opening the scoring in the fifth minute of the game, his header from Niko Kranjcar's corner bouncing past Neil Alexander's post. However, it was Town who had started the stronger side, full of confidence after their midweek victory over table-topping West Brom.

Alexander saved a shot from a tight angle by Glen Johnson, prior to Danny Haynes sending Billy Clarke away on a quick break down the Town right, however, the Irishman's crossfield ball back to Haynes was beyond even the fleet-footed frontman.

Papa Bouba Diop might have tested Alexander more with a header from a cross from the right in the 11th minute, then Clarke shot wide at the other end.

The Irish youngster was then the recipient of a poor Sol Campbell clearance on the Town right flank. The former academy player's looping shot at goal failed to trouble David James in the Pompey goal.

The incident which changed the game came in the 23rd minute. Pedro Mendes skipped away from Liam Trotter on halfway, the Town midfielder arriving late and catching the former Spurs man. While Mendes rolled around in a rather unnecessary manner, referee Halsey awarded a freekick and called Trotter over.

With the players lining up for the freekick and no remonstrations about the challenge from either the Portsmouth players or fans, Halsey, finger to his headset throughout, gave a Trotter a lengthy lecture and seemed destined to show him a yellow card, until to everyone's amazement he produced a red.

Trotter looked as shocked as anyone as the rest of the Town players strongly protested with the Bolton-based official, Owen Garvan leading the charge and making his feelings very evident. Trotter eventually loped off to applause with the Blues supporters making their feelings known to Halsey. While the challenge was a foul, it was questionable as to whether any contact was made and it was debatable whether it was worth of a yellow card, let alone a red.

Billy Clarke moved into Trotter's left midfield position as ten-man Town reorganised. Portman Road and the Blues players seemed to be galvanised by the injustice and in the 26th minute David Wright struck a 25-yard shot which was saved by James. The Blues continued to take the game to the visitors, but without creating a chance of note.

In the closing stages of the half, John Utaka hit an effort wide, prior to Pablo Couñago coming close to opening the scoring with a clever near-post flick from a low Garvan corner which was cleared off the line by Johnson.

Jim Magilton's side were applauded off at the break, while referee Halsey was booed with Town players and members of the management continuing to question the dreadful sending off decision.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, the Blues had largely held their own for much of the half, although Pompey had shown their Premier League class with long spells of possession and a well drilled backline, which had rarely allowed the Blues a shot at goal.

Portsmouth brought on David Nugent at half-time for Mendes, the England international a regular scorer against the Blues during his time with Preston.

Danny Haynes sent a cross-shot on to the roof of the net in the 47th minute, then the 19-year-old hit an effort to James's right from the edge of the area, but the keeper saved well to his right.

The Pompey glovesman involved himself in a bit of banter with the North Stand after they claimed he was “England's number four”, indicating on his fingers that he felt he was actually England's number five.

Portsmouth went ahead in the 49th minute. Sol Campbell pumped a long ball forward between Town's central defensive pair, sending Nugent through on goal. As so often before, the striker slipped the ball into the Town net for what was a lead the visitors didn't really deserve.

Sol Campbell headed a corner over, then Kranjcar struck a shot from the edge of the area, but, unlike Scott Carson, Neil Alexander held on to the Croat's effort. On 59 Jaime Peters replaced Billy Clarke, prior to Nugent turning a shot from the edge of the area on to the top of the crossbar.

There was more refereeing ineptitude from Mark Halsey in the 63rd minute when he waved play on after Pablo Couñago had been caught offside. The Spaniard closed down David James and caused the keeper to kick the ball out of play, before Halsey reversed his decision, awarding a freekick for the offside.

Papa Bouba Diop shot over from 30 yards with Pompey at this stage looking comfortable, if not overly threatening. Couñago picked up his third booking of the season after complaining too vehemently about another debatable refereeing decision.

Nwankwo Kanu sent the ball well over from a Nugent lay-off, before Diop's header from a freekick on the right was saved by Alexander.

Portsmouth should have doubled their lead in the 78th minute when Hreidarsson's volleyed cross reached Kranjcar at the far post, the Croat somehow missing the ball with the goal at his mercy.

Alan Lee, who had replaced Gavin Williams for the final nine minutes, received his third yellow card of the season for his reaction to referee Halsey awarding a freekick for his foul on Campbell.

Town were starting to make more of an impression in and around the Pompey penalty area and in the 83rd minute Alex Bruce appeared to be pushed to the ground as a corner was sent into the box. With the defender still grounded, Haynes struck a shot from the edge of the area which deflected through to Couñago on the byline, James toeing the ball out for another corner.

Only a brilliant David James save prevented the Blues from getting back on terms in the 84th minute. Sito crossed from the right to Alan Lee and the keeper reacted superbly to push away the Irishman's header.

Hreidarsson was yellow-carded for putting his arm across a rampant Haynes, then Richard Naylor replaced Sito and joined the Town attack. Garvan sent in a freekick which bounced through the crowded penalty area and beyond the far post.

Town's final chance came as the game moved into injury time. Naylor knocked the ball down to Haynes, who struck a powerful effort, which James once again impressively saved, getting a long way to his right to push the ball around the post.

But the Blues' plucky performance was to end in a rare home defeat. At the whistle the Portman Road crowd rose as one to applaud as good a display as could have been hoped for from a side reduced to ten men so early in the game against a team from a higher league.

As at Watford in last season's FA Cup, Town were on the end of an abysmal piece of refereeing from a Premier League official against a top flight club. Referee Mark Halsey was the only person in the stadium who felt Liam Trotter's challenge was worthy of a red card, with the possible exception of whoever it was off the field that he was liaising with via his headset.

Halsey's performance was inept throughout with the incident where he initially waved play on only to change his mind typifying his lack of competence.

While Pompey dominated spells of the game, Town can hold their heads up after a gutsy display which, had David James not been in excellent form, might had brought a draw.

Overall though, the Blues won't be too disappointed to exit the FA Cup at this stage with the Championship campaign the club's main concern between now and May.

Town: Alexander, Sito (Naylor 89), Wright, Wilnis, Bruce, Garvan, Williams (Lee 79), Haynes, Trotter, Couñago, Clarke (Peters 59). Unused: Supple, Miller. Att: 23,446.

Photo: Action Images

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