Crewe boss gives thoughts on consolation penalty that Portsmouth fans will agree with

The Alexandra boss rued how the match officials got two decisions that led to goals wrong as the Blues ran out 4-1 winners of the League One clash.

Artell was left fuming on the touchline after John Marquis netted the home side’s fourth goal at Fratton Park.

Despite the assistant referee pointing for a Crewe throw-in, man-in-the-middle James Oldham awarded the set-piece to Pompey – which Marquis subsequently scored from.

In stoppage-time, the visitors netted a consolation goal from the penalty spot through Oliver Finney. Lee Brown was adjudged to have handled Finney’s shot in the build-up despite the ball quite clearly hitting the defender’s face.

Crewe gave themselves a mountain to climb after gifting Ronan Curtis two first-half goals when caught in possession at the back.

Tom Naylor added the Blues’ third goal in the second period before Marquis put the gloss on the success.

And Artell conceded it was always going to be difficult for Alexandra to find a way back into the game.

He told Crewe’s website: ‘If you give any team a two goal head start then it becomes a tough afternoon. I didn’t think there was much in it in the first half, apart from we gifted them those two goals.

‘In fact, if anyone looked more promising in the first half it was us - but goals change games, it’s as simple as that.

‘Portsmouth took their chances and we didn’t. Bottom line, goals win games. We gave them some stuff at half time and a few minutes later it is 3-0. It became a long afternoon and it was mostly self-inflicted.

‘I said in there, if we are going to concede goals, I would rather concede them trying to play football but there is a limit to that was well. To lose possession twice like that is beyond that limited.

‘The fourth official and the linesman said it was our ball for the fourth goal, the referee who was on the wrong side gave it to Portsmouth. They tell us before the game they don’t want quick throw ins and then we have that.

‘He also gave us a penalty that was never a penalty as well, so it’s not sour grapes. That is me being honest. There were lots and lots of little things that they got wrong, the ones you hope referees get and then the major ones that leads to goals. We just need them to be more consistent with it.

‘I certainly am not using that as an excuse or to deflect because we have self-inflicted that defeat on ourselves.’