Callum Johnson critical of Portsmouth penalty that never was in Plymouth draw

Certainly Pompey’s players were fuming at the circumstances of the controversial 82nd minute moment which left them trailing 2-0.

Callum Johnson is adamant the Blues should have been awarded a spot kick at 1-0 down after Charlie Daniels’ fierce shot struck the right arm of Will Aimson.

Referee Will Finnie, however, was not convinced.

Instead, Aimson was allowed to play the ball down the right-flank, with substitute Niall Ennis sweeping upfield to tee up Luke Jephcott’s second of the game.

As it was, Kenny Jackett’s men struck twice in the final four minutes to claim a point.

Yet the right-back is convinced Pompey were deprived of a penalty.

Johnson told The News: ‘I put the cross in and looked up and saw Chas (Daniels) get good contact on the ball.

‘From my position, which was right next to the linesman on the other side, it has clearly stuck the player’s arm.

‘I’ve turned to the linesman and there was nothing.

‘The ref told me he didn’t have a clear view of it – then I went over to the linesman and he said the ref had a good clear view of it and it wasn’t handball!

‘It's disappointing, we thought it was handball. They’ve then gone up the other end and scored, that’s football and sometimes things go against you.

‘I’m sprinting back and I can see they’ve got an overload because their two strikers have stayed up.

‘I’m at one corner, Chas is at the other, right up the pitch with us going for it, and it was tough to get back.

‘Sometimes it happens in football and you just have to get on with it.

‘However, to show the character we did to come back was the main thing.’

The Blues had earlier appealed for offside when Jephcott opened the scoring on 70 minutes.

Panutche Camara’s shot ricocheted to the unmarked striker five yards from goal, who made no mistake.

Johnson added: ‘I don’t know if he was in an offside position.

‘I remember throwing myself at the ball. I think me, Bolts and Raggs put in blocks, and it just landed to their lad.

‘I would need to watch that one back.’

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

The News has launched a new subscription offer which gives you unlimited access to all of our Pompey coverage, starting at less than £1 a week.

You can subscribe here to get the latest news and transfer updates from Fratton Park - and to support our local team of expert Pompey writers.