How Portsmouth 'got away with one' at Bolton, according to Sunderland and Peterborough favourites

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Kevin Phillips believes Pompey ‘got away with one’ in their 1-0 victory over Bolton.

And the former Sunderland striker’s verdict on Sean Raggett’s first-half challenge on Joe Dodoo was seconded by Peterborough front man Ivan Toney as both appeared as pundits on EFL on Quest on Saturday night.

Blues defender Raggett picked up a yellow card for his 27th-minute challenge on the Trotters forward.

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The on-loan Norwich centre-back brought Dodoo down 25 yards from goal as he looked set for a goalscoring opportunity.

Bolton fans immediately appealed for a straight red card.

However, referee Tom Nield didn’t agree and instead showed Raggett his sixth caution of the season.

It proved a key moment in the game, with Pompey scoring the only goal of the match 15 minutes later.

Christian Burgess fired home from close range, after Raggett’s header from Steve Seddon’s delivery as parried by home keeper Remi Matthews.

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Referee Tom Nield showed Sean Raggett a yellow card for his challenge on Joe Dodo.  Picture: Daniel ChestertonReferee Tom Nield showed Sean Raggett a yellow card for his challenge on Joe Dodo.  Picture: Daniel Chesterton
Referee Tom Nield showed Sean Raggett a yellow card for his challenge on Joe Dodo. Picture: Daniel Chesterton | Daniel Chesterton

Looking back on the incident, Phillips wondered whether the covering James Bolton’s proximity to the challenge played a part in the referee’s decision.

Goalkeeper Alex Bass was also well off his line as Dodoo tapped the ball forward before Raggett made contact.

Regardless of how Neild made his decision, though, both Phillips and Toney believe the Blues got lucky.

Former England international Phillips said: ‘He’s made the decision quick, the ref.

Former Sunderland England striker Kevin Phillips was appearing as a pundit on EFL on Quest on Saturday nightFormer Sunderland England striker Kevin Phillips was appearing as a pundit on EFL on Quest on Saturday night
Former Sunderland England striker Kevin Phillips was appearing as a pundit on EFL on Quest on Saturday night | Johnston Press

‘He’s got the yellow card out (quickly).

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‘Whether it’s the heavy touch and he (Dodoo) would never have got it (the ball) and the defender was covering it, I don’t know.

‘But, perhaps he (Raggett) got away with one there.’

Toney said: ‘For me, I think it’s a red card.

‘Maybe the ref’s thinking he’s not going to get on the end of it because of the heavy touch.’

The 1-0 victory saw Pompey move up to seventh in the League One table – outside the play-off positions on goal difference but with a game in hand on four of the current top six.

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