ALAN BALL'S frustration and disappointment at going down to a last-minute goal at Fulham is likely to be compounded by a fine for Pompey.

Pompey arrived late at Craven Cottage and breathless after their team bus was stuck in heavy West London traffic and with the team sheet being handed in after the limit time, Ball said: "I expect we will get a fine."

But that was the least of Ball's worries as his side sank to Wayne Collins 89th minute goal which left the Pompey boss admitting: "That hurt."

Ball's patched-up team, which was missing Thomas Thogersen who failed a fitness test, new signing Tommy Berntsen who picked up a training injury, and Sammy Igoe whose girlfriend gave birth the previous night, dug and battled, only to fall to a last-minute winner from a set-piece.

"The players I had out there gave absolutely everything and I can't criticise them for the effort they put in.

"If I was being hyper-critical and nit-picking I would say we didn't have enough quality on the ball to keep it. Our passing wasn't good enough and we gave the ball away cheaply. When that happens the opposition get the chance to load it back at you," said Ball, whose side have one point from their three games against promotion-chasing sides.

"Last week at Manchester City and now at Fulham we have given a good account of ourselves against top opposition and on both occasions come away with nothing to show for our efforts."

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