Pompey would have finished seventh had it stood and been the winner against Arsenal at Fratton Park. Instead, the match finished 0-0.

But Poll, 43, who is set to retire from top-level football, ruled that Kranjcar was in an offside position even though Richard Hughes' shot came off Arsenal defender Philippe Senderos before the Croat tucked it home.

Poll took more than a minute to make his decision after being surrounded by Arsenal players who thought he had given a goal.

Pompey manager Harry Redknapp was surprisingly philosophical, claiming: "What can you do. We looked at the goal again (on TV) and it was a good goal, but the referee said he disallowed it because it came back off Richard Hughes when it really came back off Senderos.

"It should have been a goal. What can he (Poll) say? Sorry about that? The linesman asked him `who did the ball come back off' and Graham Poll said it came back off a blue (shirt). So he said `in that case it is offside'.

"I was totally surprised when he disallowed it but what can I do about it?

"It came back off Senderos - one million percent. The linesman didn't even put his flag up. So if the referee hasn't disallowed there is no way it can be really be disallowed."

Poll was at pains to explain his decision to Pompey captain Gary O'Neil as the home side aired their protests following the 0-0 draw.

O'Neil said: "The ref said he had disallowed it for offside because Richard's shot had come back off a blue (shirt) and put Niko Kranjcar in an offside position, but I find that hard to accept. We all do."

Pompey missed out on Europe after Tottenham won and Bolton and Everton both drew to secure fifth, sixth and seventh places.

Pompey finish ninth below Reading but Redknapp said: "It has still been a fantastic season. It is our highest position for 50 odd years. We've never been out of the top half of the table and the last time we got into Europe was when Nelson invaded somewhere or other.

"The boys have worked tremendously hard and did so again today."