Ipswich's Jim Magilton hit out at referee Mark Halsey after seeing Liam Trotter sent-off and his side go out of the FA Cup 1-0 to Portsmouth.Trotter was shown a straight red card by Halsey following a late sliding challenge on Pedro Mendes after 24 minutes at Portman Road.

The 19-year-old Academy graduate - whose smiling face was pictured across front of the matchday programme - went in on Mendes, leading with his studs right in front of the assistant referee on the far side.

After a long deliberation, referee Halsey deemed the one-footed tackle dangerous enough to warrant a straight red card - much to the disbelief of the Portman Road faithful.

Ipswich - winners of the FA Cup 30 years ago this season - were always then facing an uphill battle.

The crucial goal came from Pompey substitute David Nugent at the start of the second half, although Ipswich produced a late rally and were denied by a couple of fine saves by David James.

Town boss Magilton, however, was seething about the decision, which effectively ended the cup tie as a contest.

"I am not condoning it. He was a little bit late, but from an experienced referee, it was a caution," declared the Ipswich manager.

"Liam is 19 years of age, but he has not got a malicious bone in his body. An experienced referee deals with it.

"I have asked the referee at half-time and he has told me he is a professional and he is 100% right. That is what we are dealing with."

The Ipswich boss added: "The boy is inconsolable. He feels as if he has let everybody down, but he hasn't. He is a great lad and has done terrifically well for us.

"I think the referee had told him that he was getting booked. Joe Jordan [Portsmouth coach] was in the fourth official's ear telling him it was a sending off, a straight red, which did not really help the situation.

"But at the end of the day, if he has influenced an experience referee, then we really are in trouble."

Magilton is not sure yet whether they will appeal to the Football Association.

The Ipswich boss quipped: "I would not appeal against him because he is a professional and is 100% right. God forgive me.

"Maybe he will go to Lourdes and repent, he may have a look at it. I doubt it.

"We will see. Maybe we will have a sit down and think about it, but I am not going to beg for mercy."

Magilton felt the incident had ruined the cup tie as a spectacle.

He said: "Maybe one or two of them switched off, but we made it difficult for them, which is all we can ask.

"We have had a go and the boys did us proud.

"It was never going to be an easy day against Premier League opposition, but to then go down to 10 men and play the way we did was fantastic.

"They did not lie down and die, and their keeper has made three world-class saves. The lads deserve a lot of credit for that."

Pompey boss Harry Redknapp had some sympathy with Trotter.

He said: "It looked a bit harsh. I thought he was going to give the lad a yellow card, and I was surprised to see him pull out the red.

"He is only a young boy and was only a bit late I suppose, but I have not really seen it from where I was."

Pompey continued their fine away form, but it was hard work at times for the Premier League team.

Redknapp said: "They are a good side and played some terrific football and in the last 10 minutes, they put us under some pressure when Jamo made some great saves.

"But with some of the sides which have gone out today, that shows how difficult the FA Cup can be."

Nugent, 22, has been only a bit-part player since his £6million summer move from Preston.

But with several players now set to now depart for the

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