DESPITE enduring many low points in the last two years, Kevin Kyle will not have felt mental pain much keener than in the Fratton Park dressing room at 5pm on Saturday night.

The striker has fought back from the brink of an injury-enforced early retirement due to a complicated hip problem, even taking time out to study accountancy in anticipation of a career away from football.

All those problems must have paled into insignificance in the 87th minute on Saturday, however, when he inexplicably threw out his left hand to divert a corner that had flicked off the head of Tommy Miller at the near post.

The added ignominy was referee Mike Dean standing ten yards staring directly at the incident and instantly pointing to the spot.

Matt Taylor duly obliged from 12 yards and it was defeat number 27 for the Black Cats.

A rush of blood? A knee-jerk reflex? Even Kyle himself would probably struggle to explain exactly what was going through his mind.

What went through the mind of his caretaker boss is no doubt unprintable. Kyle maybe nursing the after-effects of his much discussed scalded testicles, but Kevin Ball would be forgiven for wanting both on a platter after the former Irish Sea Ferries baggage handler's indiscretion.

"I've spoken to the big man and I asked him what was he doing," said Ball, who at least could have some empathy for the Scotland international.

"He just said it was an instinct, an involuntary reaction. I just said to him that he will always remember and will learn from it. When I was here as a player I did something similar, it cost us a goal and a game and it lived with me for the rest of my career."

What it will have done for Ball's current career as Sunderland manager is open to debate. He may have the backing of many in the dressing room but with changes at boardroom level at the Stadium of Light expected in the summer, his role in charge could have just 270 playing minutes remaining.

A home win over Fulham or Arsenal - the Gunners are due next on Monday May 1 - may help his cause, but he is still in search of his first three-point haul.

He may have believed it was about to arrive on Saturday when Miller broke through a weak challenge from Linvoy Primus in the 70th minute, fed Julio Arca and was in the right place to receive his return pass and slot home from five yards.

The lead may have seemed undeserved based on the second half. Sunderland created little in the final 45 minutes after enjoying a good opening period against a Portsmouth side who appeared devoid of ideas and skill in the absence of Lomana LuaLua and Pedro Mendes.

The Black Cats could even have been ahead within two minutes of the start only for Julio Arca to see an effort cleared off the line.

Whitehead and Miller were both denied by Pompey goalkeeper Dean Kiely after efforts from distance and the home side were just denied - until the 73rd minute - by the ineffectiveness of their strikers, Svetoslav Todorov and Benjani Mwaruwari, in front of the goal and the excellence of Kelvin Davis.

Davis prevented Todorov opening the scoring with a smart save low to his right shortly after the restart, when the striker was one-on-one with the Sunderland keeper.

His best however, was saved for just after the hour. Sean Davis fizzed an effort low to his right which he could only parry, and Todorov rushing on to the rebound seemed certain to score only for Davis to smother superbly.

The excellence of their keeper appeared to galvanise the Black Cats and they took the lead eight minutes later - only to lose it within 180 seconds.

Todorov made up for his earlier misses by creating space for himself on the edge of the box and cracking an effort into the top corner. Davis got a hand to it but merely diverted it over the head of Danny Collins on the line.

A share of the spoils would have just about been merited only for Kyle to make his mark by first spurning a golden opportunity to win when put in on goal by Arca - Kiely forcing him wide - and then his hand-ball horror show.

"We scored at a good time, but instead of being strong, and holding on to it, we went the other way and ended up losing," was Ball's accurate take on proceedings.

According to the goalscorer Miller, Kyle was devastated after the match.

"He was down but he's just got to get on with it," said Miller. "Today was a test of character for the lads.

"It was a crushing defeat against Newcastle. Did we deserve it? Who knows? You tell me.

"We played very well then for 60 minutes and then they killed us with four goals.

"We're down now and we have to regroup as players.

"Hopefully our experiences will make us stronger - we've taken a lot of kicks this season and lot of knock backs."

If, according to Ball, Kyle learns from his mistake then the accountancy books may well have to stay in the loft.