Report by Ben Davis

Pompey's jinx at Bramall Lane continues, but their performance deserved much more than to lose by a single goal. The turning point was the strange sending off of the in-from defender Andy Awford in the first-half. Credit though to Pompey who equalised in the second, but a 30-yard rocket by Sheffield's substitute Dellas settled things with five minutes left.
Sammy Igoe returned to the side which lost to Birmingham with Steve Soley making way and do radio commentary instead. Sheffield's team included ex-Man Utd captain Steve Bruce is now the club's player manager.
Russell Perrett needed to be alert early on when he produced an excellent tackle to stop Marcello going any further in the Pompey area. The home side did take the lead though in the 5th minute. Claridge's attempted pass to Thorgersen was poor and let Saunders through. The Welsh international charged forward and from the edge of the area curled a low shot past Flahavan.
The Sheffield strike duo of Saunders and Marcello threatened again before Pompey went close to equalising in the 10th minute. After a couple of corners Whitbread headed down a Peron cross and with Tracey beaten Quinn cleared off the line. The home side were having the greater the possession but Pompey were playing some good stuff when they had their fair share.
Unfortunately what they did have they couldn't do much with, and it was Flahavan who was the busiest of the keepers. He saved from Hamilton before Awford made a good interception to prevent a Marcello pass reaching Saunders.
Sheffield's manager Bruce was then very luckily not to be cautioned when he clattered into Aloisi after McLoughlin had set the striker free. Bruce then got involved with Claridge when the defender stopped the Pompey man from getting up off the floor, to which he reacted. Both players were booked, although it was harsh on Claridge who was clearly disgusted by Bruce's actions.
The yellow card was out again when Twiss was booked for fouling Igoe. Flahavan then did well to clutch the ball at the feet of Saunders after a Marcello header before his opposite number, Tracey was tested for the first time. Claridge latched onto a Peron pass and the striker's effort was beaten away by the keeper.
Back came Sheffield and Perrett was Pompey's saviour when he just stopped Ford from shooting before going in bravely to keep Marcello out. Bruce was then incredibly not sent off when he blatantly pulled Aloisi back when the striker was through on goal after a Claridge flick. Aloisi was incensed and had to be restrained, but Pompey were stunned when referee David Laws called over Awford and amazingly sent him off instead.
Alan Ball switched things for the start of the second-half as the formation moved to 4-3-2 with Simpson and Thorgersen reverting to full-backs. That change took effect immediately as Pompey equalised in the 48th minute. Igoe played a ball forward to Claridge who had cleverly beaten Sheffield's offside trap. He raced into the area before laying the ball off to Aloisi to tap home.
The goal had stunned the home fans as the travelling Blue Army continued their constant singing. The team too was beginning to believe they could get something out the match as they battled away to make sure Sheffield didn't make their numerical advantage count.
In the 60th minute some sections of the home crowd thought their side had retaken the lead, but in-fact Quinn's shot had crashed into the side netting. At the other end Claridge produced some excellent skill to set up Igoe on the edge of the area, but the midfielder took too long and could only shoot straight at Tracey.
It was a mystery how Pompey didn't score shortly after when a mad scramble erupted in Sheffield's area. Claridge Aloisi and Peron might have struck the killer blow, but instead it was Sheffield who may have scored as they broke on the counter. Saunders beat the offside trap to race through on goal with only Flahavan to beat. His attempted chip looked a good one, but to Pompey's rescue was Perrett who made a stunning clearance off the line.
Other than the superb Perrett, Pompey's impressive players were Igoe and Claridge. Pompey went close when Igoe did very well to beat Quinn and cut inside before finding Claridge, whose shot was deflected inches past the post.
From a Sheffield corner Marcello sent a header against the bar and luckily for Pompey, over for a goal kick. It was now that Sheffield's numerical advantage was beginning to tell as they pilled players forward. Pompey's defence though were hanging on with Perrett seemingly everywhere, to head away or to get in a telling block.
Igoe thought he had scored the winning goal when his 25-yarder whistled past Tracey and bounced off the station holding up the net behind the goal. Seconds later, in the 85th minute, Sheffield's substitute Dellas tried his luck from fully 30-yards and this time the ball crashed in off the bar with Flahavan helpless to stop it.
For the first time in the match the home crowd started to sing, but Pompey will know they were a tad unfortunate to be beaten. We do not yet know what Awford said to Mr Laws which brought about the sending off, but for one thing Steve Bruce should have been sent off for some disgraceful foul play. The only positive point from the game was Igoe's fine performance which showed that he has overcome the injury picked up last week.