‘You don’t want to see’: Oxford United boss shares Portsmouth disappointment after objects thrown onto pitch
Pompey and Oxford United played out a 2-2 draw to share the points at Fratton Park on Easter Monday.
Matt Bloomfield admitted ‘you don’t want to see’ objects being thrown onto the pitch at players or officials after a number of incidents took place during Monday’s high-stakes game between Pompey and Oxford United at Fratton Park.
The U’s boss has also provided his take on Connor Ogilvie’s controversial red card in the 17th-minute of the huge relegation showdown, an event that had a massive bearing on the result of the match.
Despite Keshi Anderson firing John Mousinho’s men into an early lead, the game was quickly turned on its head when Ogilvie was given his marching orders by referee Josh Smith for a challenge on Stan Mills.
The controversial incident prompted an angry reaction from the Fratton faithful. Indeed, supporter frustration resulted in objects being thrown onto the pitch and in the direction of the man in the middle, who at one point passed a bottle to the fourth official. It also prompted an announcement over the PA system, warning fans of their behaviour.
A statement from the club in January explained Pompey have previously been cautioned over future supporter conduct, meaning further breaches leave the risk of penalties, which would not be limited to a financial sanction.
Although Bloomfield spoke of his admiration for the Fratton faithful during Monday’s tense fixture, the Oxford United boss made it clear ‘those kinds of situations’ should not be seen at a football stadium.
He told BBC Radio Oxford: ‘Stan (Mills) was dribbling the ball and gets sliced down and then it’s all his fault when the player gets sent off, so he gets stuff thrown at him.
‘I think it’s an incredible place to play football, it’s an amazing place to come. I was very lucky enough to do it in my playing days and I’ve been back as a manager and a head coach now.
‘It’s a fantastic place, an incredible atmosphere and it was always going to be that, right?
‘We’re six games before the end of the season, we were before the game, both teams are fighting for their lives, it’s going to be a charged atmosphere.
‘Obviously, you don’t want to see those kinds of situations but considering the circumstances, it was always going to be that way inclined.’
Oxford United boss on red card controversy
After the Blues drew first blood in the high-stakes affair, the showdown was turned on its head when Ogilvie was shown a straight red card for the tackle on Mills.
It’s a decision which came under the spotlight from supporters, John Mousinho and pundits, who strongly disagreed with Smith’s call.
But Bloomfield opted against commenting on the verdict until he waited to see further replays of the challenge.
‘I was discussing it with the crowd around me, they wanted to give me their opinions.
‘They were a little bit more accepting of it after half-time when they’d seen it back than what they were before.
‘I haven’t seen it back yet, genuinely not seen it back so I should wait to do so before I comment on that.’