How Matt Ritchie tried to avoid social media 'battering' from Portsmouth and Southampton fans after Newcastle penalty miss

Matt Ritchie admitted that he would be turning his phone off after he missed a penalty against Southampton.
By Matthew Mohan-Hickson
Published 9th Mar 2020, 14:00 BST
Updated 9th Mar 2020, 14:17 BST
Matt Ritchie. Picture: Alex Livesey/Getty ImagesMatt Ritchie. Picture: Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Matt Ritchie. Picture: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

The Gosport-born Premier League star blew the chance to open the scoring at St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday.

However he was saved his blushes after Allan Saint-Maximin scored a late winner for Newcastle.

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Ritchie was a boyhood Pompey fan and came through the club’s academy, beginning his career with the Fratton Park outfit.

Speaking after the game he said that he was expecting stick from his friends back home.

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He said: ‘My phone will be on aeroplane mode tonight, that’s for sure, because my friends from Portsmouth will be battering me and my friends from Southampton will be battering me.

‘I smile now, but I smile because we got three points. Deep down, it hurts that I missed the penalty. As I say, I’ve got thick skin. I’ll continue.’

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Ritchie was loaned out three times during his spell at Portsmouth, before being sold to Swindon Town in January 2011.

He returned to the south coast with Bournemouth in January 2013 and then moved to Newcastle in 2016.

Related topics:Matt RitchiePortsmouthNewcastleSouthamptonGosportPremier LeagueFratton ParkPompeyAllan Saint-Maximin

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