Ebou Adams scored an 89th-minute winner as Portsmouth recovered after giving away a 2-0 lead to beat 10-man Sheffield United 3-2 at Fratton Park.

Pompey had been in cruise control after Zak Swanson's stunning blast into the top corner and Adrian Segecic's tap-in either side of Hamza Choudhury's dismissal for two bookings.

But Japhet Tanganga and Tom Cannon levelled the score and the Blades were somehow hunting back-to-back victories for the first time this season.

However, Adams had the last say when he jumped off the bench to convert with a minute to go to give Portsmouth their third win of the Championship campaign.

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The first half changed its complexion in the last five minutes before the interval.

It had been a dour 40 minutes, where the Blades had edged things but Cannon could slot home after half-rounding the goalkeeper and Patrick Bamford had poked wide when he had an open goal.

But Swanson pinged the ball into the top corner from 25 yards to break the deadlock in the 41st minute.

After scoring a volley against Blackburn before the international break, he hit an unstoppable drive past Michael Cooper for his eighth professional goal.

Almost exactly three minutes later, United had another blow, as Choudhury was sent off.

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The full-back had already been booked for hacking at Ryan Kavuma-McQueen, and after getting nutmegged, he tripped the Chelsea loanee to receive his marching orders.

Having won his battle with Choudhury, Kavuma-McQueen took to taking on makeshift left-back Tahith Chong.

The 17-year-old bent narrowly over the corner of the goal after chopping back on to his right foot, before squandering a one-on-one chance.

Kavuma-McQueen continued to torment the Blades and he beat Chong before giving Segecic a tap-in to double the hosts' lead in the 54th minute.

With a man advantage, a 2-0 lead and all the momentum, Portsmouth looked in control, but five minutes later Tanganga swept in Chong's cross to spark the Blades to life.

Just eight minutes later, the visitors had completed their comeback when Cannon eased his marker away to nod in Kalvin Phillips' corner. It was the striker's third goal of the season.

Pompey had huffed for a third goal, mainly through Kavuma-McQueen's endeavours, but the closest they came was when Keshi Anderson's drive was tipped over the crossbar by Cooper.

But in the 89th minute, Adams waited at the back post for Segecic's deflected cross before bouncing a finish over Cooper to end a roller-coaster of a contest.

The managers

Portsmouth head coach John Mousinho:

"I am happy that we won the game but the nature and circumstances of it…we have a large amount to learn and a long way to come.

"It has been a tough few days, and we have managed to get three points, but you sit there and scratch your head at the decision-making.

"Some of the things we do are brilliant, and some others cost us in really important moments.

"I know there is so much more to come from the group.

"There was a little bit of relief when the winner went in, but there was fury through the game and I still am furious. I think the players are on the same page as me and that is why there was muted celebrations at the end."

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder:

"Where is Choudhury meant to go? There were a number of decisions which were incredibly frustrating.

"That is three players that have been sent off in the last two games he's refereed us.

"Where are the young and up-and-coming referees who would be refereeing in the Championship now, instead of the ones that are just surviving?

"No doubt we will have another survivor ref on Saturday. Where is the quality? Where are the ones coming through?

"I like Simon Hooper [Saturday's referee], but he has gone from bang to the Football League, through League Two, League One, Championship and into the Premier League. There is just a surviving group of referees that are doing that.

"We feel a little but hard done by after starting the game well. I thought we were outstanding to get back into the game and I felt fairly comfortable.

"It is a tough one for the players, but there is more frustration and anger towards somebody. We have to deal with it."

What the result means and next fixtures...

• Championship fixtures

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