Bitter Bristol Rovers boss Joey Barton takes aim at Portsmouth’s Danny Cowley and referee Gavin Wood after a feisty League One fixture.
Joey Barton thought Bristol Rovers suffered from a “poor referee” as his side fell to a 3-1 defeat at Fratton Park on Saturday.
Connor Ogilvie opened the scoring with a first-half header to give the hosts the lead, shortly after Pompey midfielder Louis Thompson suffered a serious injury, who was caught by Glenn Whelan on the touchline and is feared to have suffered a broken leg. Whelan was handed a yellow card, however replays showed the damage appeared to be worsened by the Pompey man’s leg being trapped and his studs getting caught in the ground.
Bristol Rovers got one back through Aaron Collins after the break, hitting home after good work from John Marquis, however they conceded once again eight minutes from time after Harry Anderson was deemed to have brought down substitute Joe Pigott in the box. Anderson cleared the ball after a parry from James Belshaw, though Pigott felt contact and referee Gavin Ward pointed to the penalty spot before being converted.
— Pompey in Canberra (@pompey_in) August 20, 2022
Not long after, the away side thought they should have one of their own when Collins claimed he was tripped by Joe Rafferty. This time, Gavin Ward turned down calls, booking the Bristol Rovers midfielders Paul Coutts and Sam Finley for their protests.
Owen Dale netted a third by heading home Dane Scarlett’s cross in stoppage time, but Barton thinks the referee’s performance was a deciding factor in the game, agreeing with Nigel Pearson’s latest complaints on EFL officials.
“We showed a bit of resilience,” the Rovers manager said. “Obviously, we’re disappointed we got beat and you never enjoy losing a game of football. But, I don’t think it’s through the effort of the players, it’s more due to the composure of the official.
“I can’t tell the difference between the two of them (the penalty claims). I actually think if anything, there is more contact from Rafferty on Azza, but we didn’t have the Fratton End shouting for it and people, I think, were affected by the stadium.
“I felt the referee was really poor today for us. Every decision, he decided to give to them and I think it stems out of the nonsense from the manager and the assistant. I was in the stand and I could hear them trying to get Glenn Whelan sent off for a competitive tackle on the edge of the touchline.
“They are screaming and jumping up and maybe it’s because they never played football and maybe that’s how you’re meant to behave, but you shouldn’t be screaming as an opposition manager to get a 91-cap international dismissed from the pitch when he has clearly made contact with the ball. It is a foul, it probably is a yellow card.”
📹 The boss has shared his thoughts following today’s 3-1 defeat at Fratton Park.#BristolRovers pic.twitter.com/LniAcIhhza
— Bristol Rovers (@Official_BRFC) August 20, 2022
Barton said that he intends to be busy in the remainder of the transfer window, and he reckons Rovers will be stronger with the reinforcements he wants.
“Disappointed to lose today because we were in the ascendancy,” Barton added. “I felt at 1-1 we were going to push on and I have to take the fall for it because I bring Jordy Rossiter and Lewis Gibson off the pitch because they haven’t played a lot of game time and I’m mindful of the war and the battle of a 46-game season.
“I’ve said to you I’m five players short, so if I push them on and they get injured in the last part of the game, I’d have been disappointed.
“We’re a work in progress. We’re far from our strongest. We didn’t hit our bootstraps until February last year, but if they are one of the top boys in the division and that’s Pompey and Fratton Park and all that, we’re going to be OK.”
🎙 “It’s due to the composure of the official I think…”
Joey Barton talking after Rovers 3-1 defeat at Portsmouth. pic.twitter.com/np8OulJLSR
— BBC Sport Bristol (@bbcbristolsport) August 20, 2022
Danny Cowley was ready to make a quick trip to the hospital once his media duties had been completed.
The Blues boss said: “It looks like he’s got a bad injury from what was a really nasty tackle and we want to send him all our love and best wishes.
“I don’t want to talk about what should have happened in that moment because I want all the focus to be on Louis.
“I’d much rather put all of my energy into hoping and praying that his injury isn’t as bad as I fear it could be.
“I said at the break that we wanted to try to win the game for him and I’m pleased we were able to do that.
“He’s a very important person and player for this football club, but we know that he’s in very good hands.
“I thought the medical team did a great job and I’ll be going straight to the hospital to find out some more.”
Cowley said: “It was a good performance and we had control in the game, getting in the right areas and just lacking the final bit of quality.
“We were in the ascendency after the break, but Bristol Rovers didn’t give in and we conceded a poor goal from pretty much their first entry into our box.
“Suddenly you think ‘wow’ because it’s 1-1 and so I was pleased with the emotional control shown by the players – and the crowd had a massive part in that.
“Our finishers came off the bench, with Joe, Reeco Hackett and Dane Scarlett all playing a big role in ultimately getting us the win.
“Joe could easily have sulked, but stayed professional and when the team needed him, he was there. That’s what a good squad does.
“I didn’t have a clear view of the two penalty incidents and my initial thought was that neither should have been given.”
Twitter reacted as a bitter Bristol Rovers boss Joey Barton takes aim at Portsmouth’s Danny Cowley and referee Gavin Ward…
@Somerstown4: Totally dominated. Barton can have no complaints. Worse team we have played this season. Anything else than a pompey win would have been robbery.
@Jake_PFC: Absolute prick
@jake03PFC: Competitive tackle which he didn’t get the ball and was late and Reckless. Hope you get relegated 👍👍
@DanKnight10: The worst team we’ve played all season….. you’re only decent chance from our poor play…. if we showed more composure we would have been out of sight at HT. 3.1 flattered you
@Willmott3Sam: Sounds like Portsmouth will be under water sooner than thought. Barton’s tears have brought it forward by at least 10 years 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
@Smith_Pics: Nothing about the potential career ending tackle on Thompson? Just the fan’s and ref’s fault for his team losing. Classy Barton! #Pompey #pfc
@smilersteve1: Don’t know what world Barton is in if he thinks it wasn’t a red. How professional of him to discredit the Cowleys cause they never played “professional” league football 🙄 Would he say the same if he went up against Mourinho etc? 🧐
@nisbeckian: Cowley also has never been to jail for assault and affray, unlike Jailbird Joey. He is a thug and sets his teams up to be the same. I would be ashamed to have him anywhere near my club. Unlike Danny who is a decent man.
@PompeyTommo: Bizarre interview.. Pompey absolutely dominated, majority of the game the ball was in their half.. Bristol Rovers were very poor throughout.
@smilersteve1: It doesn’t matter if someone has 91 international caps or 0, if a tackle is worthy of a red card it should be a red. Deary me
@JordanBoxall6: Never mind wishing a player who’s snapped his leg, a speedy recovery. Oh wait this is. @Joey7Barton we’re talking about, not known for his class.
@Merl1n79: Face it Joey you got well and truly beat by a pair of “P.E Teachers”, hope you enjoyed that you despicable piece of vermin!
@Antony_D_: Never heard so much BS since last time he opened his mouth. Critical of Danny Cowley for never having played football? Neither have you Joey.
@AlanRodhouse: Such lovely words of compassion about a terrible challenge that left a player with a suspected broken leg. Not bitter at all.. I’ve seen dog turds with more class #Pompey
@ethanrogers99: Blame the ref for a 3-1 loss ffs how about sign some players like you’ve been promising for 3 weeks so we can actually compete in this division
@PaddyHall14: Whatever the reason #BristolRovers lost today it definitely isn’t because Barton is a shite talking know-nothing who blames everyone other than himself. Embarrassing. I feel sorry for Rovers fans that they have to put up with that filth. #Pompey
@TaylorMonk91: What a strange narrative to fire shots at managers/coaches who didn’t play professionally. Just highlights Barton’s insecurity with how tactically inept he was today. Strangest in possession model I’ve seen from a pro club in number of seasons.
@adarkelimited: “Maybe it’s because they’ve never played football”. Cry more. I’m so here for this.
@stevenphillips7: Barton ought to be more concerned about why his team were totally outclassed & humiliated by a fantastic #Pompey performance. #BadLoser
@bericszn: Joey Barton is literally the last person on earth who should comment on acceptable behaviour on the football pitch
Manager: “Never played football” 3
Manager: “Played football” 1 pic.twitter.com/QmNUm2Sz24— Frog (@PragmaticFrog) August 20, 2022

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