Portsmouth 1 Sunderland 1- Angry Avram makes an enemy of Friend
10 Feb 2010 - 07:53:48
A late intervention from Aruna Dindane helped Portsmouth salvage a precious point on Tuesday night, but HM Revenue and Customs may not be as helpful as Sunderland's defence or referee Kevin Friend's wrist watch.
Dindane's headed goal from a Jamie O'Hara cross in the fifth minute of added time earned Portsmouth a draw nearly 90 minutes after Sunderland's Darren Bent had scored his early penalty but Portsmouth's lawyers failed to prevent a winding-up petition over a reported £7.5million unpaid VAT bill and will continue their battle at the High Court today.
Portsmouth will try to seek a further adjournment to get another 28 days to appeal against the petition and stave off administration.
Late drama: Aruna Dindane fires Pompey level
But after a dismal performance at the weekend against Manchester United,the South Coast club returned to fighting on the pitch, too, as AvramGrant's side battled to overcome a 1-0 deficit with 10 men even ifSunderland were reduced to nine men before Pompey got their breakthrough.
MATCH FACTSPORTSMOUTH (4-4-2): James 6, Finnan 6 (Webber 89min), Ben Haim 5, Wilson 4, Rocha 5, Bouba Diop 6 (Kanu 75), Basinas 5, Yebda 5 (Belhadj 78), O'Hara 7, Dindane 7, Piquionne 6.
Booked: Finnan, Dindane, Ben Haim.
Sent off: Rocha.
SUNDERLAND (4-4-2): Gordon 6, Hutton 6, Turner 5, Kilgallon 5, McCartney 5, Malbranque 6 (Zendon 45, 6), Cana 6, Cattermole 6, Reid 6 (Meyler 80), Jones 7, Bent 7 (Bardsley 89). Booked: Cattermole.
Sent off: Cattermole, Meyler.
Man of the match: Aruna Dindane.
Referee: Kevin Friend.
This was about 'more than football', said Grant, as he embarked on apassionate defence of the club from which he has refused to walk away.'The fans and the players, they gave everything,' he said. 'more thaneverything. It's not easy for them, but they continue fighting notjust against their opponents but against another situation.'
Grant went on to accuse Premier League referees of having a vendetta against his club.
He said: 'I must say, I have had enough (of poor refereeingdecisions). I can fight against everything but sometimes it's too much.I think it's too easy to do things against us. I like this referee andI like the referees in England, but not in the last 10 days.
'They go with the atmosphere and they always read the papers.'
On the spot: Darren Bent fires the decisive goal from 12 yards
Speaking about Portsmouth's date at the High Court today, Grantsaid: 'This club needs to stay alive. This club is a traditionalEnglish club.
'Football is not one and one equals two. Football is a game ofpassion. I understand that we have a problem but they need to give usan equal chance. This is not an operation without feelings. Football ismore than this.'
A delightful flick from Kenwyne Jones sent Bent clear after nineminutes. The striker seemed to have taken a poor touch as he attemptedto go round David James, but referee Friend had no hesitation inpointing to the penalty spot after Ricardo Rocha came across andappeared to trip up the striker.
The official did, however, brandish a red card in the direction ofHassan Yebda, but changed his decision after consulting with hislinesman.
Mistaken identity: Referee Kevin Friend shows the red card to the wrong man before changing his mind
But Portsmouth's misery was compounded as Bent dispatched aright-foot shot that cannoned off the inside of James' right-hand postto put Sunderland ahead.
Grant responded by sacrificing a man in midfield and left two upfront as his side chased a much-needed win. Dindane appealedvociferously and unsuccessfully for a penalty when he fell at thefeet of Matthew Kilgallon, prompting Grant to charge on to the pitch atthe whistle and confront the referee face-to-face.
The Portsmouth manager then spent the second half watching from thestands as his side continued to push and probe and Sunderland hit theself-destruct button.
Making a stand: Grant gesticulates from the touchline after being banished for a confrontation
Lee Cattermole was the second player to see red as he was bookedtwice in six minutes for unsporting behaviour and a reckless challengeon Angelos Basinas. Substitute David Meyler then followed his team-matedown the tunnel with four minutes of the 90 remaining, having been onthe pitch for just two minutes before elbowing Tal Ben Haim.
Sunderland manager Steve Bruce said: 'They are both young and honestboys, but they will have to learn from that because they cost us thematch.'
Benjani wants Pompey resurgence... but only after triumph with SunderlandNORTHERN EXPOSURE: Genius like Kevin Phillips is hard to find - but Darren Bent deserves a place at the World Cup PORTSMOUTH FC
