Stevenage boss Steve Evans slams the referee as Pompey manager John Mousinho brands Nathan Thompson’s kung-fu tackle the worst he’s ever seen.
Nathan Thompson was sent off in the 96th minute for a high foot on Christian Saydee, with Steve Evans’ assistant Paul Raynor also receiving marching orders.
The game finished with Pompey taking all three points to stay top of the League One table, with 53 points from 25 games played, four points ahead of third place Peterborough. Stevenage are 5th with 43 points from 25 games, level on points with Barnsley, in the last playoff place, and who have a game in hand.
— Pompey in Canberra (@pompey_in) January 1, 2024
Pompey (4-2-3-1): Norris; Rafferty, Raggett, Shaughnessy, Sparkes; Pack (c), Morrell; Kamara, Robertson (Saydee 83 (Stevenson 90+8)), Lane (Devlin 78); Bishop
Goals: Lane 12, Bishop 33
Booked: Pack, Rafferty, Norris
Subs not used: Schofield, Towler, Whyte, Scully
Stevenage (4-2-3-1): Ashby-Hammond; James-Wildin, Sweeney (N.Thompson 46), Piergianni (c), Butler; L.Thompson (Hemmings 60), Burns (B.Thompson 46); List (Forster-Caskey 46), Freeman, Roberts (MacDonald 87); Reid
Goals: L.Thompson 26
Sent off: N.Thompson
Booked: L.Thompson, Sweeney, Freeman, Roberts, Piergianni, N.Thompson
Subs not used: Hegyi, Pressley
Referee: Charles Breakspear
Steve Evans said, as per portsmouth.co.uk: ‘My thoughts on the game were Pompey were better than us in the first half. We gave them a helping hand with two mistakes from our central defender giving them two goals.
‘We got ourselves back level and give them a goal with another silly mistake. You see how bold we were second half. I changed it and they did not have a clue – they did not have a clue. It was one-way domination apart from the odd counter in the second half.
‘We had a couple of chances and Jamie Reid should score two. There was the header at the near post and he’s through one on one but gets it stuck under his feet. Then we have a penalty kick not given and it’s bewildering – absolutely bewildering.
‘The positives were we’ve come to a side full of good players whose budget blows 90 per cent of teams in this division away including ours. There was one team in the second half who deserved to win the game – and we go away pointless.
‘There was a brilliant atmosphere so credit to the Pompey fans and Stevenage fans. The atmosphere was terrific all day and they really backed their team. It’s a wonderful club who shouldn’t be in League One.
‘I expected to win. If you look at the context of the game there was one team who certainly should’ve had a point if not three – Stevenage.
‘The level of the performance in the first half was not where it needed to be and they caused us problems, but you can see how we affected that with the changes. We changed it, the lads responded really well, we controlled it and you can see who was hanging on.
‘I’m frustrated because I got the team wrong and the shape wrong in the first half, but I didn’t allow for the two mistakes which were individually horrendous. They were poor for the level and level below. Poor.
‘But we dealt with it and when it was 2-1 said get through to half-time and let’s change it. Then we’ll have a real go and see what these are made of. It was a totally dominant performance.
‘The one thing I’ve understood over the years is Pompey supporters are dead honest and the people in Pompey are dead honest. They know what happened in the second half. They know we should’ve had a penalty and they know Marlon should’ve been sent off. They know the referee has helped them get three points.
‘I was talking to Marlon Pack and I’ve got a lot of time for Marlon, he’s a great kid. He’s on a yellow and he drags the shot off our player in the middle of the park and he gives him a warning. That’s Breakspear though, that’s the referee for you.
‘I said I’ve done nothing wrong and I’ll see you in half an hour (over speaking to the referee after the game). He said you’re not coming in, you’re not welcome. He knows why he can’t see me – facts don’t lie.
‘The video tonight won’t lie, the video tomorrow to the Football League won’t lie but he’ll get another game on Saturday and he’ll be walking about like he does strutting his stuff. His performance is shocking.
‘Mikel Arteta can say what he wants about the decisions at Newcastle, but if he was here today the FA would be finding him not guilty and saying he’s a great guy and he would’ve lost the plot because the decisions in the second half from Charles Breakspear were disgraceful.
‘He took six or seven times of the keeper taking forever to give him a yellow – it was pointless. Then he brandishes a yellow from the halfway line. Pathetic refereeing, but he’s not a good referee.
‘I’m not questioning his integrity, I’m just saying he’s rubbish. That’s just my opinion and I’m allowed to have that opinion. If the referees phone me up tomorrow I’ll still say he’s rubbish. He’s a rubbish referee. Watch the video and tell me he’s a good referee.’
John Mousinho told The News: ‘I thought it was one of the worst challenges I have seen on a football pitch – and I have been around the game for about 20 years.
‘Christian has a nasty cut between his nose and his eye. To be fair, the referee dealt with it and sent him (Nathan Thompson) off. It’s one of the most clear reds you will ever see in the game.
‘It’s one of those things we don’t like to see, but it’s happened, Christian will be fine, he’s a tough kid.
‘I’ve played against Nathan. Remember, I played here for Oxford when Alex Mowatt missed a penalty. I’m sure he didn’t mean it, but it wasn’t a great challenge.
‘Christian’s okay, a bit dazed, when you stick your head in there and get 4-5 studs underneath your eye, you are never in the best place. There’s a lot of blood.
‘It was the right decision to bring him off because it was a bad head injury and we didn’t know if we could stop the bleeding. When you take a whack like that the best thing is to make sure he is safe.’
There was plenty of reaction on Twitter as Steve Evans slams the referee and John Mousinho brands Nathan Thompson’s kung-fu tackle the worst he’s ever seen…
@Morgs1968: Hard to know which is worse: the challenge or the pretence that he is the injured party.
@richraymond84: Utterly disgusting. To lie on the floor afterwards pretending he was injured too…
@FosterAdrian: How could Steve Evans and his coach argue with this? It’s GBH! Speedy recovery Saydee. Looked a bad cut
@Aaron25650310: That’s disgusting
@emm_smith93: That’s a vile challenge!
@Kevin5LiveChamp: Who ever told that bloke he’s a footballer!!? Just a bloody thug.
@bradaladders: What a scumbag, vile challenge and pretends to be hurt after. Surely his ban gets extended
@PompeyViking62: No ill will toward Stevenage as a fan base… But fuuuuck me was it nice to beat that rancid whopper goblin and his team of dickhead parasites. They went from nippy harmless fouls in the first half, to outright dangerous attempts to take players out Get it right fucking up ya.
@ReeceDSport: Obviously doesn’t mean to do it but Jesus Nathan
@HarvMarksy: Horrible vile fat arsed cunt. Didn’t go for the ball on Norris and didn’t for this either. Prick
@PompeyNewsNow: Absolutely awful challenge #Pompey
@jeffharris_665: It was bad in real time watching it again is worse
@DanSFCKeen: One of the worst challenges I’ve ever seen, christ
@jayr1972: Everybody was Kung foo fighting….
@spenaldo73: State of this tackle, horrible cunt.
@haz_bond: What a dirty cunt. No one should have their foot that high. If the FA have balls they will extend his ban further than a normal straight red. Fuck Stevenage dirty fuckers
@ryanlewis79: Get fucked Thompson, that was horrific
@AtlGorillaTalk: A red card is not enough punishment for this offense. #Pompey
@ryazzzz1: Mate what a prick, you can see what he’s trying to do leave his leg up and dive for a free kick cheating cunt.
@ChrisTheLewis: You can see why the ref sent him off.
@pompeychiv: That is horrendous
@pompeanut1898: This is even worse than I realised. Disgusting! Then he has the audacity to stay down like he was injured or something. What a din!
@FFSChristie: Nasty cunt. Evans and his bench arguing against it just as bad
@Bluearmypfc_: The fact he only got a second yellow for that is disgraceful and gutless refereeing
@Jamesr02_: Everyone at #Pompey can agree Louis >> Nathan right
@ShanoMurray: No fucking need the fuckinh Neanderthal
@MrFinlayW: If a red card ever warranted more than a 3 game ban #pompey
@41M4C4UL4Y: Up there with one of the worst I’ve seen live! Nathan Thompson has always had a red card in him from his days with us! 🙈 Cheerio cheerio cheerio 👋
@jameslllewis: Nathan Thompson, absolute fucking scumbag. Deserves a lengthy ban with ‘challenges’ like that. Tried to do Norris a few minutes before as well. Cunt.
@Karl_Myers: Will have played at a higher level if he wasn’t such a prick. Horrendous challenge
@ptid1976: Disgraceful challenge! You have to hope a longer ban follows. Sadly, it’s not a surprise from a Steve Evans team – he WANTS his players to hurt the opposition, and gambles on them getting away with it. With some success. Stevenage deserve a better manager, and style of play…
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