Pards: Poll tipped me the wink

Controversy has been caused by Alan Pardew's statement that referee Graham Poll gave him a signal that Alexander Song might be in danger of being sent off in last night's match against Reading. Keith Hackett, the head of referees, has refused to comment until he has spoken to the Tring based referee. Song had been in a duel with Reading charm merchant Sidwell throughout the game.

Pardew had been to see the referee during the break to ask for a 'signal' should the young Cameroon player walk the tightrope again. Following some more questionable tackles after the restart, the Addicks supremo knew that time had come with just over 20 minutes left.

Pardew said: 'I went to see Graham Poll [at half-time] and I said to him "I need to have some signal if it is getting close", and he sent me that signal, so Alex had to come off. He gave me a look - which more or less said it all.'

'I said if he makes another challenge which you are unhappy about, I cannot do nothing if it is a silly one, I know that - but if he is making silly ones and the next one is going to be it, then please let me know. I think that is within the rules of the game.'

Pards added: 'It was full credit to the referee, because that is the sort of thing which you need, how the game will work better. No-one wants to see a team go down to 10 men. He did the right thing and if there was that communication and a better relationship between us and the referees, then we would have far less incidents on the pitch.'

Pards had a rebuke for the talented loan player: 'It was an indisciplined challenge from Alex which put himself under pressure in the first place. He was brilliant at times for us tonight, but he needs to learn from that.'