Portsmouth fume over penalty decision which thwarted victory over Oxford United

With the Blues comfortable and well worth their lead through Sean Raggett’s 18th-minute opener, Jack Whatmough was adjudged to have tripped Dan Agyei.

Referee Tim Robinson pointed to the spot, which Alex Gorrin converted for a 70th-minute equaliser.

That knocked Pompey out of their stride and the outcome would be a 1-1 draw at Fratton Park tonight.

Yet afterwards, Jackett admitted an annoyed Blues’ dressing room were disputing the moment which changed the match.

Pompey’s boss told The News: ‘Ultimately, one or two decisions didn’t go our way which the players are disappointed with, but you have to accept those.

‘It was a game where I felt all the way through we needed that second goal to shake Oxford off.

‘Their substitutes improved them and looking at the penalty again and the decision when Ellis was through in the first half, for those ones we have to accept it.

‘During that last period it was going from end to end. Ryan Williams coming on gave us some fresh energy and some big chances with Ronan Curtis and Sean Raggett towards the end as well.

‘With the penalty, we have to accept it, the referee has given it.

‘The players were unhappy, they said it wasn’t a pen.

‘From my point of view, you have to accept it. It’s two penalties against us in the last two games now and things will swing our way.’

The point keeps the Blues in fourth place, while helps Oxford in what is threatening to be a relegation battle.

However, Jackett felt his side’s performance warranted victory over the U’s.

He added: ‘We scored a good goal and we had other chances.

‘Jack hit the bar, there was a good move between John (Marquis) and Ellis (Harrison) and John has put one over, so some good clear-cut chances in the first half and we deserved to go 1-0 up.

‘At the start of the second period we were on top for 15-20 minutes without being able to put it away and in that period it did feel like we needed that second goal.

‘You could feel it swinging the other way.’