CHARLTON manager Alan Pardew has admitted regret at causing embarrassment to referee Graham Poll after the official is alleged to have signalled that he wanted Charlton midfielder Alex Song withdrawn to spare him a red card against Reading.

The 19-year-old, who is on loan from Arsenal, was treading a fine line after his 15th minute caution for a foul on Steve Sidwell.

He later received a 53rd minute lecture from Mr Poll after another foul on Sidwell and was eventually replaced by Kevin Lisbie in the 69th minute.

But Pardew said: "I didn’t have a special agreement with Graham, who pointed to all four areas of the pitch, which suggested to the whole stadium that Alex was on his last warning.

"That was enough for me and I knew Alex had to come off. I regret that my comments immediately after the game may not have helped Graham. We all make mistakes."

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