Karl Robinson blames referee after Oxford lose to Portsmouth
Posted Monday, March 26, 2018 by PA
New Oxford manager Karl Robinson laid into the referee after his side were thrashed 3-0 by Portsmouth in his first game in charge at Fratton Park.
Oxford midfielder Alex Mowatt missed a second-half penalty and was then immediately sent off for slapping Pompey defender Nathan Thompson in the face.
And U’s boss Robinson revealed that referee Charles Breakspear told his players that he had booked Thompson twice but then failed to send him off.
He said: “I’m angry that the referee has cost us the game.
“He (Nathan Thompson) has ran 20 yards and goaded him which is a booking in itself and he was booked in the first-half.
“The referee then told my players that he had booked Thompson after he had already been booked before.
“I’ll be speaking to the PGMOL 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 anymore from my players.”
The home side took the lead after just five minutes when Kal Naismith bundled home from a Connor Ronan corner.
Oxford were then awarded a penalty in the 61st minute when Matt Clarke fouled Rob Dickie in the Pompey area.
Mowatt stepped up to take the spot-kick but fired it against the post before being goaded by Thompson which then saw the midfielder slap him in the face.
It didn’t take Portsmouth long to take advantage of the extra man as Brett Pitman doubled his side’s lead in the 69th minute when he fired into the roof of the net.
Pitman got his 19th of the season when he tapped in from Jamal Lowe’s cross with 10 minutes remaining.
Pompey assistant manager Joe Gallen admitted he didn’t see the incident involving Mowatt and Thompson but was thrilled with his side’s performance.
Gallen said: “I don’t know what happened as I was following the ball.
“I’ll have to have a look at it as I haven’t seen it but 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.
“I thought we started really well and then we took an early lead.
“Oxford came back at us strongly which we expected as they have some very good players.
“There is no doubt that this was a huge result for us at a vital time in the season and I’m delighted.”
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