Call for Consistency

The Dockyard Derby adversaries shared the spoils from an entertaining affair at Home Park, kicked into gear by Yann Songo’o’s goal after 21 minutes. Kyle Bennett and Danny Rose turned the game in Pompey’s favour, but Connor Smith’s 89th-minute intervention ensured a point apiece from two impressive sides.

The match was bullet-pointed by a handful of refereeing decisions from official Darren Handley that were not received well from either set of fans at times, as well as from the touchline.

“The referee at times today booked some of our players for challenges,” said Derek, “and allowed their players to go free without booking their players. I thought that was a bit inconsistent at times today from the referee.

“I think that it was shown more in the first half with Jordan Slew picking up a booking, and it was all caused by [Christian] Burgess pushing him. I don’t think that’s very consistent. We’ve got to be very careful that when a referee is refereeing games, he needs help from everybody.”

Songo’o received a booking after his goal - a punishment that wasn’t replicated after Portsmouth’s goal celebrations took place off the field, at times in front of the Green Army and at other times encouraging away supporters over the advertising boardings.

“I believe that he was booked for going off the pitch for celebrating," said Derek on Yann’s incident. “There’s got to be a consistent nature to the game, and I don’t think that there was.

“When they scored their goal, they went across to our supporters, they celebrated in front of our supporters, and we know that’s going to incense our supporters. It’s not right. Nobody got booked in that situation, and that’s what I’m talking about consistency. It wasn’t there today. It’s disappointing because I think that it could’ve been a lot better.”