Gaffer For A Day: Shambolic, absolutely atrocious - the worst referee Portsmouth have had for ages
Gaffer For A Day, Luke Stewart, aged 37 from Fareham, analyses Pompey’s 2-2 draw with Oxford United...
Okay, so what did you think of referee Josh Smith?
He was shambolic, absolutely atrocious, one of the worst refereeing displays we have seen for a long, long time. He spoiled the game, his mistakes could have been disastrous.
I have rewatched the Connor Ogilvie red card, it’s a strong challenge, but, the moment the referee paused before getting a card out, I was worried. He’s talking to the linesman and he’s not happy with a yellow - so went further.
Even Oxford’s players didn’t react that badly to Ogilvie’s tackle, apart from the lad who went down. They weren’t calling for him to be sent off.
Then that incident in the second half with Brodie Spencer was atrocious. He should have been sent off for a second yellow.
How do you assess Pompey’s display?
It was gritty, really hard working, and a fantastic effort. I feel sorry for Ogilvie and Conor Chaplin having to go off early, with everybody else you can’t knock the effort. They are fighting, they are trying, you can’t complain.
It was a great finish as well by Andre Dozzell for the equaliser. You would take a point and move on from that losing position and being down to 10 men.
Defeat would have been brutal after the ref had spoiled the game and we will be the happier of the two sides. Although, had it been 11 players, I think it would have been three points to us.
How do you see the relegation picture now?
It’s a tough six games, but we do have a habit of performing well against the top teams. I think we can nick something at Middlesbrough, who haven’t won any of their last five at home.
You have to be hopeful, you can’t bury your head in the sand, you've got to have a go. The players are trying, they are playing for Mousinho and playing for the shirt.
On Monday we saw Keshi Anderson putting in a bit more quality, so if we can keep him on the pitch then we’ve got a chance.
The team didn't stop and Fratton Park played its part, which always gives the team a massive boost. There was a lot of encouragement from the stands, it was a good atmosphere.
Who was your man of the match?
Anderson was the best player on the pitch by a country mile. His calmness, his footwork, his tireless work-rate, fantastic, plus the defending and attacking in each half of the pitch.
He travelled with the ball very comfortably and we haven’t had that this year. His distribution of the ball was good also, just keeping it rather than giving it away.
You look at his goal, the way he shuffled the ball from his right foot to his left very quickly, it was really good.
Anderson was very impressive, one of the best individual performances I have seen for some time.
Nicolas Schmid - 5
Terry Devlin - 7
Regan Poole - 8
Conor Shaughnessy - 7
Connor Ogilvie - 4 (Jordan Williams - 5)
Marlon Pack - 7
Andre Dozzell - 8
Gustavo Caballero - 8
Conor Chaplin - 4
Keshi Anderson - 9
Colby Bishop - 8