Cowley gets last laugh as volatile Evans sideshow adds to Blues’ joy
Simmering animosity in the dugouts reaches boiling point after Pompey grab injury-time winner as substitute Jacobs’ shot deflects in for own goal. NEIL ALLEN reports...
GARETH EVANS recounts a story of how he was bombed out of Rotherham by manager Steve Evans.
It centres on when he passed the ball out of play for a Dagenham & Redbridge player to receive treatment during a November 2012 encounter.
His furious boss purportedly ranted and raved over the midfielder’s impromptu act of good sportsmanship, to the point where the ex-Pompey man snapped ‘Shut up’, followed by an expletive targeting Evans’ weight.
Gareth Evans was banished to train on his own and, seven weeks later, had his Millers contract cancelled by mutual consent.
The pitchside behaviour of Steve Evans has long been theatrical, a hammy pantomime villain sneering and hissing, primarily at match officials who stumble unwillingly into his vicinity.
At times on Saturday, observing his combustible histrionics was considerably more engrossing than the game unfolding at the Priestfield Stadium.
Likewise, the Scot’s explosive post-match comments, rattled off in machine gun fashion in the direction of Danny Cowley, make an absorbing read.
Apparently the refusal of Evans and assistant Paul Raynor to shake hands with Cowley following the final whistle was prompted by the Blues head coach’s ‘disrespectful’ goal celebrations.
Indeed, Pompey’s boss earned a booking for his reaction to Michael Jacobs’ deflected winner two minutes into time added on – labelled ‘resembling World Cup stuff ’ by Evans.
In fairness, such passion can perhaps be excused considering the manner of the dramatic victory, coupled with the simmering animosity between both benches.
Certainly it can be argued a draw would have been a fair outcome bearing in mind a large number of below-par Blues performances, particularly in attacking areas and delivery of the final ball.
Not that Evans would possibly concur, claiming: ‘The one thing about the Portsmouth fans is that they are not delusional. They will know they should have lost the game’.
Perhaps it slipped his mind that on-loan Chelsea and England under-19 keeper Jamie Cumming produced several superb saves, including finger-tipping George Hirst’s sublime lob onto the crossbar.
Mahlon Romeo also missed when presented with a gaping goal, while substitute Ellis Harrison had the ball in the net only for referee Dean Whitestone to bring back play following a head injury for Max Ehmer.
In contrast, the Gills’ finest moments came from efforts bordering on the edge of the box, with Danny Lloyd the chief culprit with some wild shooting, and Blues keeper Gavin Bazunu rarely being called upon to make a save. There were also penalty appeals for the Pompey loanee’s challenge on John Akinde, although even Evans testified that the keeper had touched the ball initially, sufficient contact to divert it for a throw-in.
Not that the visitors warranted the win – while it is laughable to claim Gillingham should have instead earned the three points.
Spare no sympathy for Evans, who spent the course of the game angrily disputing every refereeing decision, then afterwards painted a flawed imitation of what those present actually witnessed.
Still, his hard-working players did deserve more from the match, recovering from a shaky start to really challenge a confident Pompey, particularly during the second half.
In-form pair Marcus Harness and Joe Morrell looked shadows of themselves, Reeco Hackett’s awful delivery from left wing-back was immensely frustrating, while Romeo’s display was a good few gears down from his masterful Sincil Bank showing.
As for captain-for-the-day Ronan Curtis, his application, passion and work-rate can never be questioned, yet there remain question marks over whether he is as effective on the ball when taken away from his left-wing position.
Despite such drawbacks, however, Pompey managed to dig out a win at the death for the second Saturday running.
Ever since Ipswich set the benchmark for the lowest point of Cowley’s Fratton Park reign, the response from his then under-fire players has been remarkable and, likewise, their rise up the table.