Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp admits he was reluctant to sell Gary O'Neil in the summer to Middlesbrough.

O'Neil was outstanding for Boro in yesterday's crucial 1-0 win and Redknapp said: "He was a player who always gave 100 percent but I had been allowed to spend a lot of money in the summer and had to help balance the books.

"He was the one player who created interest, and when Boro came in with an offer of £5 million I felt it was right.

"In an ideal world Gary would still be with us and I'd love to have him here."