A missed penalty from the last kick of the game against Brighton cost us a point yesterday. I hope, come May, that point wont prove to be as vital as in 1984-85. Those of you with long memories may know to what I am referring. That season, Pompey's match with Brighton at Fratton Park ended 1-1. It was on Match of the day, but having scoured youtube I cant find any footage, so I will have to describe what I'm talking about. In that game Pompey were awarded a free kick, about 30 yards out. I can't remember who took it but I remember to this day the commentator shouting "In like a rocket" as the ball nearly broke the back of the net. The celebrations lasted but a second or two until all eyes focused on the referee, who had had his arm raised, not because he wanted to leave the room, but to indicate an INDIRECT free kick. Had that one kick taken the slightest whisker of a deflection from the 16-18 bodies between the ball and the goal, Pompey would have won the game 2-1 and picked up three points instead of one. Oh, and the point to all that? http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/division-two-old/1984-1985
Hi Dev, That's a bit like the Oxford 5-5 debacle, in the early 90's which I was unfortunate enough to witness. The ref told the players time was up, as Pompey kicked off, after conceding, making the score 5-4 in their favour. He then allowed Oxford enough time to score again, costing us two points which, at season's end would have got us up, at West ham's expense. Back in the days when anyone who fancied it, could have a go at being a ref, if the overweight, useless charlatan, we had that night was anything to go by!
