Keith Hackett reacts to Preston v Portsmouth controversy – Exclusive
Portsmouth lost 2-1 to Preston North End on Saturday in a game containing both late goals and even later controversy.
John Mousinho’s side have suffered back-to-back defeats after following up Wednesday’s 2-1 loss to Plymouth with another at Deepdale, thanks to Stefan Teitur Thordarson’s 87th-minute strike.
Colby Bishop had equalised for the Blues just four minutes earlier after Ryan Porteous opened the scoring for Preston with 14 left on the clock, but the hosts were able to see out the three points.
Preston, however, ended the game a man down after substitute Sam Greenwood was shown two yellow cards within four minutes of one another in stoppage time; the second for a flying elbow on Bishop.
Tony Harrington gets it right in Preston v Portsmouth controversy
Portsmouth weren’t able to make much of their one-man advantage given that second-half stoppage time ended just three minutes later, but Keith Hackett was in full agreement with referee Tony Harrington.
| Preston NE | Statistics | Portsmouth |
| 2 | Goals | 1 |
| 2.51 | xG | 0.58 |
| 6 / 14 | Shots on Target | 2 / 9 |
| 54% | Possession | 46% |
| 6 | Corners | 5 |
Greenwood catching Bishop on the back of the head as the two went up for a high ball left the Preston and Portsmouth supporters in disbelief, and Harrington swiftly showed him the second yellow card.
“That’s the correct decision to send [Greenwood] off”, ex-PGMOL chief Hackett exclusively told Pompey News.
Portsmouth miss chance to pull clear of Championship dogfight
After a spell of form which saw Pompey win four games from five and pull 10 points clear of the Championship bottom three, successive losses have left them just four points away from the drop zone.
Saturday’s visit to Deepdale was certainly one of fine margins – only opening up in the last 15 minutes, when all three goals took place, and Mousinho will rue that Greenwood’s dismissal didn’t come earlier.
The Leeds United loanee had only come on as a substitute at half-time and was one of five changes, two of whom – Robbie Brady and Ched Evans – set up both Preston goals from Porteous and Thordarson.
Mousinho‘s side therefore remain 17th with four teams and points apiece separating them from the relegation zone, and he’ll be hoping that Portsmouth can maintain their cushion to secure safety.