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Boothroyd rages as Portsmouth steal victory with last-gasp penalty

Portsmouth were already making a hurried exit out of Fratton Park, the elation of a climb to third in the table clashing with relief at three points they hardly deserved, when Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd turned his anger and frustration on the referee he blamed for turning another afternoon of Trojan effort to waste.

The vigour behind Boothroyd's protests was not hard to understand as he saw a deserved point slip through Watford's fingers with just a minute of normal time remaining. But replays showed that Jay DeMerit laid hands on Kanu as he chased a ball that had squirted through the defensive ranks and in today's game of diminishing physical contact that is a spot kick. You don't have to go too far back this season to recall penalties that have been given for less.

"It wasn't a penalty, it was offside in the first place and the contact was debatable," argued Boothroyd following Lomana LuaLua's successful conversion which came at the end of a traumatic week for the Portsmouth striker who has been the target of sick taunts by some Pompey fans.

"When people pay good money to support us and the players work as hard as they possibly can you expect the officials to have good games and they didn't.

"If a referee has a poor game in the Premiership he gets demoted but why should the managers in the Championship have to put up with s*** like that. I'm not advocating hanging but maybe we should put them in the stocks and pelt them with tomatoes." It only fuelled Boothroyd's ire that two reasonable shouts for Watford penalties had left Chris Foy impassive.

The promoted team are about to embark on a crucial period of four games in which they play Sheffield United, Manchester City, Reading and Newcastle. Sunday Telegraph

Boothroyd runs out of patience

Finally, the Yellow Brick Wall was breached, but it took Portsmouth all their patience and guile to record a much-needed and hard-earned victory.

It was desperate stuff, though, Lomana LuaLua converting a penalty after Jay DeMerit had brought down Kanu a minute from time. Ironically, the American had given Watford the lead from a corner in the first half and was Watford's most prominent defender in the subsequent rearguard strategy.

Portsmouth's relief at reversing a lacklustre recent run of form was matched only by Watford's frustration. Inevitably, Kanu had equalised for Portsmouth just before half-time, his eighth goal of the season, but Watford, for their industry and organisation alone, might feel they deserved a better fate.

Their manager Adrian Boothroyd certainly thought so and expressed his disappointment forcefully to referee Chris Foy at the final whistle.

“It was offside and it was debatable whether there was even any contact,” said the Watford manager of the decisive penalty. “You expect officials to have good games and they didn't. I'm not advocating prison sentences, but let's get medieval and put them in the stocks for an hour or two and throw rotten tomatoes at them.” Sunday Times

Last-gasp LuaLua is spot-on for Pompey

A chilly afternoon at Fratton Park ended in what Sir Alex Ferguson once described with the words 'Football, bloody hell', although losing manager Aidy Boothroyd would prefer a stronger expletive. 'I'm not criticising the referee, I'm being constructive,' the Watford boss began, before dropping the pretence. 'I'm not advocating a prison sentence, but the stocks will do. If a referee makes a mistake in the Premiership he's demoted for two weeks and takes charge in the lower divisions. Well, why should those poor managers have that shit?'

What had occurred for this vendor of ice to Eskimos to become like all the other seasoned managers in the division? The teams had appeared to be heading for a point apiece that would have pleased Boothroyd more than his counterpart Harry Redknapp, whose team were brighter but had too much unfinished business in front of goal. That was before Chris Foy reached for his whistle. With a minute remaining, Jay DeMerit grappled Nwankwo Kanu to the ground inside the box. Foy pointed to the spot and Lomano LuaLua - who had earlier in the day spoken out about abuse from Portsmouth fans - slotted the winner to move his side into third in the Premiership ahead of Arsenal. 'It was not a penalty, because Kanu was offside,' said Boothroyd, who appeared to have a point. DeMerit may have been guilty, but the Nigerian seemed to have infringed. So, what about the old argument that decisions even out? Boothroyd had his answer primed. 'Let me tell you, I was having a drink with an opposition manager and mentioned that to him. He told me, "It evens out for the bigger teams." And that was from an experienced man.' Sunday Observer

Watford left all at sea as Kanu inspires victory

Lomana LuaLua blasted home an 88th-minute penalty to leave Watford broken-hearted after a brave battle to resist a below-par Portsmouth at Fratton Park. Pompey needed Kanu's eighth goal of the season just before half time to drag them back into the match after Jay DeMerit capitalised on poor marking at a corner to head the Hornets in front in the 32nd minute.

And late in a second half it was Kanu who went down in the area from DeMerit's seemingly innocuous challenge from behind to set up his strike partner to ram in winner. The points were welcome for Pompey who dropped two at home to Fulham last week but they rarely sparkled on a dull afternoon. Sunday Independent