‘Should’ve been sent off’: Portsmouth boss questions how Sheff Utd striker wasn’t dismissed and offers disallowed goal verdict
There was some big calls made by ref James Linington, in the defeat to Sheffield United. John Mousinho gives his verdict on two major incidents under the microscope.
John Mousinho believes Sheffield United striker Tom Cannon should have been dismissed as his side fell to a deflating late Championship defeat.
But the Pompey boss felt the visitors had a case over Colby Bishop’s disallowed first-half goal, which infuriated Fratton Park in the 1-0 defeat to the Blades.
Pompey boss: £10m Sheffield United striker should’ve been sent off
Mousinho’s side saw their five-game home unbeaten run in the league come to a close, as they paid the price for first-half profligacy against Chris Wilder’s side.
There was controversy, too, as Zak Swanson and Cannon collided in the first half, with the Pompey defender needing treatment following the clash. Replays clearly showed the £10m signing throwing an arm in the direction of Swanson, but referee James Linington and his assistants didn’t spot the flashpoint.
Mousinho aired his frustration over how the officials failed to pick up the incident, with his view clear Cannon should’ve walked.
He said: ‘Cannon swung an arm at Swanson and he should’ve been sent off.
‘It obviously is (a frustration), I don’t really know what else to say about it. We can see it on the angle we’ve got and wanted it (the red card).
‘I didn’t see it in real time, but Swanny was on the floor for a while and I was wondering why’s that? It was because he took a whack.
‘I think it needs to be picked up, I don’t know how it wasn’t.’
The game’s other big talking point also arrived in a dominant Pompey first half in which they passed up a string of presentable openings, as they racked up 13 efforts on goal.
The ball was in the back of the net in the 23rd minute as Bishop fired home in the box, but Linington ruled the goal out for what he saw as a foul by Ebou Adams on visiting defender Femi Seriki.
The Fratton Faithful questioned the call, however, as the pair collided, but Mousinho admitted he would’ve have been disappointed if it was his team defending and the ref didn’t give the decision.
He added: ‘It looked like a good goal for me at the time, but watching it back, if it had happened in the other box I would have been asking for that.
‘I’d need to see it properly, because we’ve got the wide-angle footage on the bench - but I’d need to see the Sky footage.’
Mousinho saw another performance where his team have come away empty-handed after being the better side, following the 1-0 reverse at Preston North End last weekend.
The Pompey boss feels it’s pretty clear his side need to have more cutting edge, while the late goal conceded from Andre Brooks was poor.
The Sheffield United winner came as they were opened up from their attack, before midfielder Luke Le Roux was caught wandering as Brooks tapped in.
Mousinho added: ‘We’re playing well at the minute, but we’re not putting the ball in the back of the net.
‘A couple of moments in the game have been the difference.
‘I thought we were excellent in the first half and, when we got to grips in the game in the second half, I thought were the better side as well.
‘As the game went on it felt like one where we’d be frustrated, but take a point and move on - but we shout ourselves in the foot.’