Barton reffing fuming

FLEETWOOD manager Joey Barton believes the referees in League One have to show more consistency.

Barton was left fuming as Nathan Sheron was sent off in Fleetwood’s defeat at Fratton Park.

Oli Hawkins landed the only goal of the game to send Portsmouth six points clear at the top of the table.

Sheron was dismissed after he was shown a second yellow card (above) six minutes from time.

“Unfortunately at this level, the officiating on the whole leaves a lot to be spoken about. They have got to be more consistent,” Barton (right) said. “The ref sent young Nathan Sheron off for winning the ball, bizzarely he books him after not giving a foul.

“Maybe it’s the biggest attendance they’ve officiated in front of.

“I thought it really affected them.

“To the point we got a player booked for taking too long on a throw in.

“I stopped going and speaking to the referee after the games, there’s no point, it made absolutely zero difference.”

Portsmouth edged the first-half chances, coming close after 18 minutes through Ben Thompson’s fierce strike which whistled narrowly

Portsmouth 1 Fleetwood 0

over the bar. Their winner came five minutes after the break. Hawkins latched on to a flick-on from Tom Naylor to head past Fleetwood keeper Alex Cairns. Portsmouth manager Kenny Jackett said: “I thought it was a welldeserved 1-0 win. “Defensively I thought we were very sound. “Always in the latter part of the game I’m looking for us to break and maybe get another goal to make it a little bit more comfortable but it doesn’t seem to be our way, we’re always biting our nails.”