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Portsmouth’s Danny Cowley responds to more jibes from Bristol Rovers’ Joey Barton

Portsmouth’s Danny Cowley responds this week to more jibes from Bristol Rovers’ outspoken Joey Barton made earlier on this season.

The Pompey head coach spoke about his tactical approach to suit his players following a start to the season which sees them 5th in the League One table, 11 games in, and hopes to continue the fine run of form.

Cowley’s side, who usually sees two strikers in a 4-4-2 formation for much of this season, are getting set to face Charlton Athletic which will be televised live on Sky Sports this Monday night.

This is a formation that has proved popular with the fanbase. Yet the one person who seemingly isn’t impressed by this is Joey Barton.

He made a dig at the Blues manager’s lack of league experience as a player, claiming that might explain his ‘nonsense’ behaviour on the touchline in last month’s meeting.

Barton claims Cowley’s actions swayed referee Gavin Ward’s judgement that afternoon, especially after Glenn Whelan’s first-half tackle on Louis Thompson which led to the midfielder being stretchered off with a suspected broken leg.

Barton said the ‘competitive’ challenge right in front of the South Stand dugouts was a yellow card – as per the decision made by the match official.

He said Cowley should’ve had more respect for a player who has nearly 100 international caps for Ireland, after ‘trying’ to get the 38-year-old sent off.

The game also saw two controversial penalty decisions which went Portsmouth’s way.

Harry Anderson was adjudged to have brought Joe Pigott down with referee Ward giving the spot kick while shortly after, no action was taken when Joe Rafferty appeared to push Rovers forward Aaron Collins in the Blues penalty area.

Speaking to Bristol Live after the game, Barton 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 (Aaron Collins), 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 (Danny Cowley) and the assistant (Nicky Cowley)

‘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.’

 

Pompey boss brushed off Joey Barton’s jibes which included mocking of his side’s 4-4-2 formation while, attacking his background and incorrectly suggesting the former non-league man hadn’t played the game.

A month ago, Cowley said: ‘When you talk about the 4-4-2 formation, we’re not too caught up in numbers.

‘We play one formation in possession and another out of it.

‘We press in a 4-4-2 but if teams play in a different way we can press in a slightly different shape.

‘I don’t know, I watched Liverpool play Manchester City last season and both teams pressed in 4-4-2s.

‘For us, in possession, the game is quite fluid and the players move, so we use different formations in possession.

‘But we don’t really get too caught up in all that (talk).’

When asked about Barton’s comments, he added: ‘I think for us, we were pleased to win the game.

‘But we’ve parked that result very quickly and moved on.

‘On Saturday night our main focus was Louis (Thompson) and making sure he was okay.

‘Then the nature of playing a three-game week you have to move on quickly.

‘So the focus then turned to Newport County and we’ve had a good look at them, while Port Vale are on the horizon as well.’

 

Fast forward a month and Cowley outlined his approach, taking no interest in what others are saying about the way he handles his team: ‘That’s what happens in football.

‘People can have opinions on a building or a piece of woodwork – it doesn’t mean it’s a very good opinion!

‘People see our formation as a 4-4-2.

‘We played a 4-4-2 against Newport and Crawley with a similar cohort of players to Aston Villa under-21s.

‘It felt in those games as if something was missing slightly, so we just tweaked it slightly really.

‘Some people may have seen that it was more like a back three really.

‘Ronan (Curtis) was out high and wide and we narrowed up Zak (Swanson), Denver (Hume) was playing on the outside and Michael (Jacobs) was coming in.

‘Reeco (Hackett) was playing as a 10 coming into that right half-space.

‘Then Tunni (Tunnicliffe) and Jay (Mingi) were playing on different lines.

‘It’s tactical really against what you see in the opponent and getting the connections right.’

Cowley has repeatedly spoken of not getting mired down with talk of formations and rigidity of one specific approach.

He feels being malleable in the areas players take up on the pitch will help get the best out of them.

Cowley added: ‘When people talk about formations, it’s why I say don’t get bogged down with them.

‘It’s not really a 4-4-2 but you can call it that if you want.

‘We call it a 4-4-2 with the boys because we don’t want to make a big thing of it!

‘Ryan (Tunnicliffe), for example, feels much more comfortable playing as an eight than a six.

‘Denver feels much more comfortable playing as a wing-back.

‘So you tip the team slightly to allow that, because Michael Jacobs naturally comes inside anyway.

‘It’s all movable and they can go five yards this way or five yards that.

‘Sometimes it just creates a better connection.

‘It’s our job to set the players up for success and get them on the piece of grass where they feel most confident.’

 

This is how fans reacted as Portsmouth’s Danny Cowley responds to more jibes from Bristol Rovers’ Joey Barton…

Connor Gilchrist: Why can’t he just shut up and stop embarrassing himself the little pussy

Shane Davies: I cannot even bring myself to listen to the opinion of a pratt like Barton. A nothing. A nobody who isn’t content till, for whatever reason, he is in the news. If he ever managed my club, Pompey, I’d cut all ties. Man’s a wanker

Justin Thatcher: Joey barton the name says it all

Mark Russell: Joey Barton, how are you still a manager

Matt Marsh: 4-4-2 doesn’t get you where you want to go… Joey Barton doesn’t get you where you want to go more like!!!

Bob Emery: Joey Barton criticising anybody elses tactics. 🤔🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂

It’s fair to say Joey Barton has been rather vocal about many teams this season, and w’re only a few months into it.

SEE MORE: “I absolutely don’t like these guys” – Bristol Rovers’ Joey Barton launches attack on Exeter

SEE MORE: Fans slam Joey Barton’s excuses blaming ball boy for Bristol Rovers defeat vs Accrington

SEE MORE: Joey Barton makes cheeky dig at Bristol City and delivers 20-minute ‘rant’ on state of the game

SEE MORE: Shrewsbury release cheeky diss track at Bristol Rovers’ Joey Barton via TikTok

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