Portsmouth twice got lucky in Cardiff City win – Keith Hackett
Keith Hackett believes Portsmouth twice got fortunate during the 2-1 win over Cardiff City at Fratton Park.
Pompey picked up three valuable points in their battle for survival with victory over fellow strugglers Cardiff on Tuesday (11 February).
The win moves Portsmouth four points clear of the relegation zone, albeit having played two games more than Hull City in 22nd.
Colby Bishop and Conor Shaughnessy gave John Mousinho’s men a two-goal lead after just 17 minutes in a flying start, before Callum O’Dowda pulled one back five minutes later.
That is how it stayed as Fratton Park celebrated wildly come the full-time whistle, but former PGMOL chief Hackett believes it could have been a different outcome.
Portsmouth right side of contentious issues v Cardiff City
Portsmouth‘s players argued O’Dowda used too much force to get on the end of the cross he headed in, but Hackett did not see any clear infringement.
And speaking exclusively to Pompey News, Hackett also felt two other big calls went in Portsmouth’s favour on the day.
Connor Ogilvie went in on Anwar El Ghazi from behind in added time, which Hackett felt was worthy of a sending off rather than the yellow he was shown.
“The challenge was worthy of a red card for serious foul play,” he said. “There was excessive force and the foul challenge endangered the safety of his opponent.
“There was clearly an element of malice so the player can count himself rather fortunate. The challenge was more than reckless and therefore a yellow card was the wrong colour for me.“
Prior to that, Cardiff felt they should have had a penalty for a handball against Hayden Matthews.
“This was a clear handball. The player helped the ball on its way,” Hackett said. “His look towards the referee was a clear signal to me that he knew he was in the wrong.”
Portsmouth earn three massive points in Championship survival battle
Portsmouth fans will be glad that a couple of big decisions went their side’s way in what was a massive contest – for which Mousinho made a brave selection call – at the bottom end of the division.
Sometimes you need a bit of luck to go your way, but full credit to each and every player for also putting in a shift.
It was far from vintage – a short burst in the first half aside – but it was very much a case of job done.
Survival is far from guaranteed at this stage, but Mousinho’s men can finally breathe a little easier now.