RAGING ROBBO’S BREAKING POINT
New Oxford boss slams ref over ‘double booking’ claim
NEW Oxford manager Karl Robinson was embroiled in a cheat storm after his tenure got off to a nightmare start.
Robinson was fuming after he claimed referee Charles Breakspear told U’s players he booked Portsmouth’s Nathan Thompson twice but failed to send him off.
Luckless United also had Alex Mowatt sent off seconds after missing a penalty in a game full of talking points.
Robinson raged: “I’m angry the referee has cost us the game.
“The referee told my players he had booked Thompson after he had already been booked before.
“I’ll be speaking to the PGMOL (Professional Game Match Officials Limited) tonight, as they are on speed dial, and then I will be speaking to Mike Riley, who is definitely on speed dial.
“Maybe my players need to have that cheating mentality at times because they are honest and fair.
“Up until the sending-off we looked like a class act and deserved something from the game. I can’t ask any more.”
Pompey took the lead after five minutes when Kal Naismith stabbed home from Connor Ronan’s corner.
Oxford were awarded a penalty in the 61st minute when Matt Clarke pulled down Rob Dickie.
Mowatt embarked on his minute of madness when he fired the spot-kick against the post. He then slapped Thompson around the face after being goaded by the defender, earning him a red card.
Pompey skipper Brett Pitman then scored twice to give Robinson a thrashing on his first outing as Oxford boss. And Mowatt admitted his reaction cost his side. He said: “It was the worst 60 seconds I have had in football.”
Pompey assistant manager Joe Gallen said of the incident: “I understand what the other team are saying. But, let’s be honest, there are plenty of things that get said out on the football pitch.”
PORTSMOUTH: McGee 6, Walkes 6, Whatmough 6, Clarke 7, Donohue 6, Thompson 8 (May 87), Close 6, Naismith 6, Ronan 6 (Evans 51, 5), Lowe 6, Pitman 6.
OXFORD: Eastwood 5, Kane 5, Mousinho 5, Dickie 6, Smith-Brown 5 (Ricardinho 77, 5), Ledson 6, Mowatt 4, Henry 7 (Mehmeti 77, 5), Napa 6 (Rothwell 66, 5), Brannagan 6, Thomas 5.