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Tom Cleverley slams John Mousinho’s behaviour as Pompey boss criticises Baah and refereeing

Tom Cleverley slams John Mousinho’s behaviour as the Pompey boss criticises Kwadwo Baah and the refereeing.

Watford beat Portsmouth in a controversial encounter at Vicarage Road on Boxing Day, Rocco Vata scoring deep into stoppage-time as the Hornets earned a late victory.

Watford netted an equaliser from the penalty spot – but there were questions as to should it have been a penalty in the first place.

And after the final whistle, Kwadwo Baah had been shown a red card after full time after goading Portsmouth with the Fortnite ‘Take the L’ dance.

The result leaves Portsmouth sitting 21st in the Championship, with 20 points from 21 games played, and are 1 point above the drop zone but have games in hand over sides around them, Watford meanwhile are 6th with 37 points from 22 games played.

Mousinho said to the media that had Baah been one of his players, he might never play for him again as a result of what he did in front of the Vicarage Road end.

Cleverley then hit out at what Mousinho said: “There was a group of players who kept their heads during the second half, and I think that was radiated from our bench.

“And there was a group of players who lost their heads in the second half, and that was radiated from their bench.

“I think that John should maybe look at his own behaviour, and I will deal with Baah internally.

“I’m disappointed in John’s comments as I thought his own behaviour was what ultimately cost his team in the second half.”

The Pompey manager said little about his own players’ actions during the game, and a tackle on Mattie Pollock that only resulted in a booking.

“He’s not going to, is he?” responded Cleverley, per Watford Observer.

“I didn’t want to get into it to be honest, but his conduct on the side is certainly how not to do it.

“I’ve been no angel since the start of the season, and for some games this season.

“But to come out and hear that John has been commenting on my players is disappointing.”

Cleverley was impressed unimpressed with Baah did, with. the manager rushing on to try and stop the players from clashing: “This is a season full of first experiences for me, and I was maybe showing my experience as a player.

“You want to win with humility and dignity, and I’ve said before I want all my players to develop, to play in arenas and be under the microscope.

“Baah needs to get used to it, that sort of scrutiny.

“He’ll get abuse at times and he has to deal with it better. Now he’s learning his lesson the hard way.

“I’m disappointed with that, but I thought he had a great game and if there is one bad taste left from all of it, then it’s his suspension for Sunday.

“We have to say he deserves it. We’re told as players and coaches that you can’t goad the supporters because of the hostile environment that will cause.”

John Mousinho said, per portsmouth.co.uk: ‘The penalty is the penalty, I thought the refereeing performance overall, particularly in the second half, was well below the standard we end at this level – and we have fallen victim to it.

‘If you look at just before the penalty, Mattie Pollock drags Colby Bishop down on the edge of the box, nothing’s given. It’s very, very strange to be honest, the whole performance.

‘At the time I thought it wasn’t a penalty because the referee didn’t give a penalty, I don’t know how it has been given, so we’ve got to look back and watch it again.

‘I was booked for our bench being messy, that tells you where things are at the moment. I got booked. If you look at the reaction to Watford’s winner, no booking there, that tells me everything I need to know.

‘I’m furious because we need more, we need to deal with the long goal kick as well. I am just lost for words at how we have to deal with this (refereeing decisions) every single week.

‘You have to be careful with what you say. Secondly, I could be here for 30 minutes talking about it (refereeing) and I don’t think it’s worth it.

‘I could give you so many examples. The best example I will give you is after the penalty goes in it is our ball, it’s our kick-off, everybody understands the rules of the game.

‘Yet the referee allows eight Watford players to surround our goalkeeper and Paddy Lane gets punched in the face twice. Nothing happens. It is what it is, we have to move on, we have to deal with it.’

He added: ‘I am angry with the players for not dealing with the longer goal kick and actually probably not taking advantage of the couple of opportunities we had towards the back end of the second half.

‘But it’s very difficult to be angry with that group of players after the performance we put in for 95 minutes.

‘It was a really superb performance, I do feel sorry for the lads and I do feel sorry for the fans as well.’

On Baah, Mousinho said: “We will never ever do that. If one of my players did that, they would be in serious danger of never playing for the club again.”

Fans gave their reaction as Tom Cleverley slams John Mousinho’s behaviour while Pompey boss criticises Baah and refereeing decisions during the game…

@Benji_A_2004: Or in non-PR terms “ The ref was wank, we want to hurt him”

@Richwfc2:
“I think that John should maybe look at his own behaviour, and I will deal with Baah internally.
“I’m disappointed in John’s comments as I thought his own behaviour was what ultimately cost his team in the second half.”
Tom Cleverley ole ole…
Cost you the game
#watfordfc

@furniss_alex: We’ll pay his fine. Let him say what his actual thoughts are on the ref

@Pompeyboyblues: Head up Mous. Beaten by the ref

@pompeyshaun1986: Bet he has nothing to say on the tackle on Ritchie, or the penalty outside the box

@capfc11: What about the tackle that ultimately meant Richie couldn’t continue, who made that tackle 🤔

@Hayden_PFC: Cleverley can be unhappy doesn’t change the fact PFC vs Watford will be a championship fixture next season.

@Lawro77: He’s doing a good job at Watford but why would his players and bench “lose their heads” when the major decisions were always going their way? Strange interview

@AlexFletcher20: It’s so easy to play the bigger man card when the decisions have wrongly gone your way. You’ve just been given a penalty for a foul outside the box. Of course you’re going to ‘radiate’ calmness. You’re hardly going to be the one getting upset.

@CharliePompey95: The reality is Cleverly will inevitably be sacked in the next 18 months and go on to achieve nothing in management, JM on the other hand will go to the very top. These comments won’t age well.

@offthecuffpfc: Goes to show how spineless Tom is. Embarrassing man embarrassing club

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