10/02/07: Portsmouth 2 City 1Updated: October 3rd, 2007
It was a moment of Barton ugliness that can’t be put down to the drink.
The incident can be seen on 3:24min of this clip, and leaves little doubt about the player’s intentions.
Sure, bad fouls will always be a part of football, as will tunnel bust-ups, training ground “incidents” and the settling of old scores. But there was something about this challenge that left me feeling uneasy.
For the second time this season Mendes was causing us serious problems. And for the second time we put him in hospital.
Imagine if that had happened to SWP during his City heyday - running another side ragged home and away before being knocked unconscious in one game and put on crutches in the other. We’d probably think it was part of the opposition’s game plan - and we might have had a point.
The Mendes injury certainly worked to our advantage, even if we got nothing from the game. By the time we had our first shot after 35mins, Portsmouth had already created eight goal attempts as well as the goal. Once he was stretchered off it was a different game.
After the Thatcher incident in August, I wondered whether Pearce’s half-time teamtalk played a part in what ensued (link). It could be that Barton’s challenge was merely the product of frustration at the way the game was unfolding. But it does create another question mark about the ugly football Pearce has brought to City.
~ MOTD highlights
~ Pearce’s post-match interview
~ Getty Images photos
~ Latest Premiership table
~ Full game: part 1; part 2; part 3;part 4; part 5; part 6; part 9; part 10
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~ Football in Portsmouth has always had a strong association with casual violence for me. Back in the 1980s I did a history degree down there, and played in our department’s Sunday league team.
There were a lot of mature students in my year, many with connections to the Navy. It was through this that we ended up with a player called John. He was Scottish, used to box at light-heavyweight for the Navy and despite his 15 years of service remained at the lowest rank possible. His pet hates were goalkeepers, students and the English - though not necessarily in that order.
We used to play our games against other student teams on council pitches and without a referee. For John, each game must have felt like his birthday and Christmas rolled into one.
If he was in a good mood he’d catch the ball from a corner, throw it into the net then argue fiercely that the goal should stand. Mostly he’d just wait for the keeper to catch it before knocking both into the net, and during open play he’d randomly slam into opponents in a manner not unsimilar to the dodgems.
But it was when we played a team in white that his playfulness evaporated. We noticed that one of the opponents was wearing an England shirt, and before kick-off our captain quietly advised him to turn it inside out to avoid offence. The guy ignored the advice, but after spending the next 20 minutes being chased all over the pitch by a violent 15st Scotsman with a bad hangover, might have wished he hadn’t.
Now none of us thought it was a serious murder attempt. True, John had pinned him to the floor and his hands were gripped tightly around his neck, but he did let go - eventually.
After the match he probably realised he’d gone too far. He didn’t turn up for games after that, so maybe his time at the bottom of the football pyramid was a way of dealing with his anger and frustrations and had now served its purpose.
Joey Barton has Sporting Chance, while John had the Portsmouth Poly Historical Studies XI.
Match stats
The stats (below) are compiled from the live commentary and differ slightly from Sky’s stats here:
Match reports
Portsmouth 2 City 1
Pedro Mendes and Kanu both scored as Portsmouth recorded their first win in seven Barclays Premiership matches against Manchester City at Fratton Park.
However, the victory was marred by the sight of Portuguese midfielder Mendes being carried off on a stretcher after City’s Joey Barton appeared to tread on his opponent’s Achilles tendon just before half-time.
Barton is real heel as Kanu ends Pompey’s winless run (Jonathan Wilson)
Not since Paris killed Achilles himself with a well-directed arrow has an assault on a heel occasioned such fury. Until Joey Barton trod on Pedro Mendes just before half-time, Portsmouth seemed on course for a comfortable victory. They lost their cool, their manager, Harry Redknapp, was sent to the stands and, after conceding an equaliser, Portsmouth ended a run of six games without a win only thanks to Nwankwo Kanu’s late winner.
Mendes is hero and victim again (Anna Kessell)
City struggled to make an impression, that was until Barton’s corner caused furore as Traore flew into the box with an arm raised and sent the ball reeling. The City players crowded referee Mike Dean to complain, but play was waved on. A visibly frustrated Barton appeared to take revenge, crushing the heel of Mendes without any attempt at getting the ball. Barton then raced to the sidelines and shoved at Gary O’Neil before being booked for his actions. Mendes, meanwhile, was carried off on a stretcher, hands over his face, in agony.
Barton faces inquiry (Jeremy Wilson)
Joey Barton has ended what should have been the proudest week of his career facing the prospect of disciplinary action after being accused of deliberately injuring Pedro Mendes and then making abusive gestures to Portsmouth fans.
Kanu winner gets Pompey back on track (Ivo Tennant)
Stuart Pearce said he would look at the incident concerning Mendes and Barton on the video footage. “I have only seen it once. It is disappointing that crowds often boo Barton, but then they do that to Ronaldo as well.
“We should have come away with at least a point and would have done if we had imposed ourselves and been a touch more hard-nosed.”
Redknapp points finger at Barton (Kaveh Solhekol)
Barton was the last player to leave the pitch after the final whistle, acknowledging the City supporters as Portsmouth fans bayed for his blood, but it was left to James, his former teammate, to sum up the midfield player’s performance. “Joey is a 100 per cent guy,” the goalkeeper said. “But he has to learn that you can’t be 100 per cent all the time.”
Kanu calms raging Redknapp (Trevor Haylett)
Pedro Mendes might well decide to go missing the next time these teams are joined in combat having been carried off against Manchester City for the second time this season. And Stuart Pearce would surely welcome such a move after seeing his team impaled on another of the Portsmouth midfielder’s stunning strikes.
Barton in danger of being typecast (Oliver Brown)
Barton was certainly guilty of a mistimed lunge, but the rush to condemn him was unedifying. Allegations abounded that he had been looking down at Mendes’ leg with malevolent intent, but television replays showed nothing so definitive.
Portsmouth 2 Man City 1 (Ralph Ellis)
Harry Redknapp was sent off for swearing at referee Mike Dean in an angry half-time bust-up.
Portsmouth 2 Man City 1 (Robert Paul)
Here’s Harry’s version: “I did swear, because I do swear sometimes. I just waited by his door and said, ‘How the f***ing hell can you give the same decision, the same yellow card’, because he’d given one to Andy Cole.
“That’s all I said, but I didn’t swear at him. So he said, ‘Well, if you don’t agree you’d better sit in the stands.’ So that was that.
He sent me off but I didn’t try to get in his dressing room.
Player ratings
Ratings come from (in order): Grob, Jonny Foreigner (Mancityfans) , Sunday Times, The People, The Sun, Sky and Sky Your Rating.
Isaksson: 8.5, 5.5, 6, 7, 7, 8, 7.9 (av: 7.1)
The save from Lauren was a fantastic reflex save. First goal a belter, second one was poor marking. Good distribution and started many attacks with intelligent use of the ball. Very good. (Grob)
One good save but punches when he should catch and almost put the ball in his own net on one occasion. The Mendes goal was within reach and he didn’t reach it. (Jonny Foreigner)
Richards: 6, 5.5, 6, 6, 7, 6, 6.5 (av: 6.1)
Not especially dominent. Looked jaded. Much more of a threat when switched to right back where he gives the team a great attacking option. (Grob)
Way below his best. (Jonny Foreigner)
Dunne: 8, 8, 6, 6, 6, 8, 7.5 (av: 7.1)
Warrior. Shame about the quality of his long balls. (Grob)
Some great clearances. (Jonny Foreigner)
Distin: 7, 6.5, 6, 6, 7, 7, 7.0 (av: 6.6)
Safe. Second goal came from his position however. Some nice bursts forwards but im very hopefully that he’ll be back with Dunney in the 4-4-2 central defence next week. (Grob)
Got into trouble a few times but was unlucky not to score when Traore handled so +0.5 for that. (Jonny Foreigner)
Sun Jihai (Samaras 87): 7, 8, 6, 6, 6, 6, 6.7 (av: 6.5)
Great return. Worked hard, some decent crossing, good energy. Passing is sometimes hit and miss but he’s not as bad as some!! (Grob)
Turned defence to attack with some excellent tackling and break up play and attacked energetically, some good crosses. (Jonny Foreigner)
Barton: 6, 7.5, 5, 6, 7, 7, 6.2 (av: 6.4)
Not at his best. Ball bypassed him for much of the first half but managed to work a few nice openings in the second. Suspect challange on Mendes blotted his copybook. (Grob)
An average of 6 in the first half and 9 in the second! Some good crosses when he got wide again and linked very well with Sun at times inc. the goal. (Jonny Foreigner)
Ireland: (Beasley 61): 5, 4, 6, 6, 6, 5, 5.6 (av: 5.4)
The invisible man. Didnt even know he was on until his number went up. Very dissapointing. (Grob)
Looked completely cream crackered, needs a week off. (Jonny Foreigner)
Dabo: 5, 6, 6, 5, 6, 5, 5.3 (av: 5.5)
Poor passing, no pace. Hamann might start to look like a better option should this form continue. His pressence and physique do help in the middle of the park though. (Grob)
Invisible at times but his role is to be the quiet player that gives Barton and Ireland freedom. (Jonny Foreigner)
Ball: 7, 7, 6, 6, 6, 7, 6.7 (av: 6.5)
Very good debut. Some nice balls into the box, great positioning, good passing. Exposed towards the end on a couple of occassions. Promising. (Grob)
Got Distin out of jail on at least one occasion and had speed and energy coming forward. good left foot and good to see him having a shot as well as some quality passes. (Jonny Foreigner)
Corradi: 7, 7, 6, 7, 6, 7, 6.8 (av: 6.7)
Was awful up untill the goal, then turned into a man possessed for 15 minutes after it. Great header for his goal but should have buried the one before half time. (Grob)
Three good efforts inc a well taken goal. almost won a penalty as well second half when the defender handballed while tackling him, shame the ref was blind. (Jonny Foreigner)
Vassell: (Miller 79): 7, 6, 6, 6, 6, 7, 6.7 (av: 6.4)
Worked his balls off, 2 great crosses for Corradi and got in behind the athletic pompey defence a fair few times. We missed him when he went off. (Grob)
Would have been a 4 if it wasn’t for a couple of excellent crosses inc the goal. (Jonny Foreigner)
Subs:
Beasley (Ireland 61): 6, 6, 5, 5, 6, 5, 5.4 (av: 5.5)
Gave the midfield good balance. Really hope he gets a run in the side on the left in the 4-4-2 before the end of the season. Some nice runs and good use of the ball. Starting to put himself about a bit.
Unspectacular. (Jonny Foreigner)
Miller (Vassell 79): 5.5, 6, 5, - , 6, 5, 5.5 (av: 5.5)
Proved today that his right leg is just for standing on. Beaten too easily for the second goal. One strong run into the box. Looks a handfull but the jury is still out. (Grob)
Looked dangerous. (Jonny Foreigner)
Samaras(Sun Jihai 87)
Came on much too late to do anything, then was stuck on the right wing!! Hilarious! (Grob)
Not much to do and had to cover the right wing with Sun needing to come off for a lie down. (Jonny Foreigner)
Subs not used:
Hart, Hamann.