Andre Dozell’s 87th-minute equalizer saved 10-man Portsmouth a point in a tumultuous 2-2 Sky Bet Championship relegation battle with Oxford.
Keshi Anderson’s goal in the ninth minute put Pompey ahead, but Conor Ogilvie was given a straight red card seven minutes later, forcing Pompey into a difficult situation.
Brodie Spencer equalized and Tottenham loanee Will Lankshear appeared to have secured the three points with a diving header for his 10th goal of the season.
However, midfielder Dozzell scored a late goal to give Portsmouth a place and points advantage over Oxford. Both teams were separated by just one point, with Leicester in between.
Portsmouth’s Marlon Pack wins with a header over Oxford United’s Michal Helik
A frenetic opening five minutes set the frenetic tone as the ball bounced from one end to the other.
For Oxford, Yunus Konak speared the ball over the bar and Kiaron Brown hit Gustavo Caballero’s cross against his own post.
It was therefore no surprise that the stalemate was broken in just nine minutes. Ogilvie’s deep cross was headed home by Caballero, Colby Bishop nodded into the path of Anderson, who fooled the defender with a dummy and slotted it home.
It was Anderson’s first goal since November, when he scored against Birmingham and Pompey.
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Dozell scored the equalizer in the 10-a-side match between Portsmouth and Oxford United.
The midfield frenzy didn’t result in a serious foul and everyone at Fratton Park was surprised when referee Joshua Smith sent off Ogilvie for a tackle on Stan Mills.
Portsmouth’s left-back tried to steal the ball, but his back foot caught Mills’ movement. This is the second time Portsmouth has been fired from the campaign.
Immediately after the send-off, bottles were thrown at those involved by home support.
Pompey manager John Musinho immediately responded by substituting Conor Chaplin for defender Jordan Williams, but this substitution immediately caused problems in attack and handed the ball back to Caballero.
Despite holding the man advantage until the 30th minute of the first half, Oxford failed to get a shot on target before the break.
Coach Matt Bloomfield’s double substitution near the end of the game brought change and a new attacking impetus, which quickly resulted in an equalizing goal.
Mills was successful in cutting in from the left and forcing a save from Nicholas Schmidt, but could only force the ball into the path of Spencer to score his first Oxford goal.
Both teams spent much of the second half converting half their chances, leading to an action-packed final 10 minutes.
Oxford appeared to have the upper hand in the 81st minute when Michal Helik’s cultured inswinging cross was met by Lanksjar with a diving header.
However, things changed when Dozell found the bottom corner after Milenic Alli’s pullback with three minutes left.
“It’s not a red card for Pompey.”
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Tim Sherwood and Jamie Mackie question Portsmouth’s Conor Ogilvie’s controversial red card against Oxford.
Jamie Mackie talks about Sky Sports Football:
“I don’t think it was a red card. I don’t think the referee gave the red card. I think the linesman on that side was pretty close and I think we were able to communicate pretty early on.”
“Look, it wasn’t a great touch. Obviously he’s scrambling a little bit and Mills, standing up, is riding it quickly. I’m just looking there. Okay, look, he’s wrapping his legs around. But I’m making sure the studs aren’t really working. I don’t think it’s that high.”
“It’s not as high as a wrap around the leg, it’s more like a quadricep. It’s pretty low.”
managers
John Mousinho of Portsmouth:
“It’s still very close at the bottom of the table. I don’t know if it would have helped either team because it was a must-win for both teams. In a situation like this, we’re going to get points.”
“I thought the character of the players and the way they approached the game was great. It was nice to do that in a big game, especially to get back into the game after Oxford’s second goal.”
“My take on the deficit in real time was that no one, including Oxford, expected it to be a deficit.
“I don’t think it’s a red card and if you’re going to do something monumental like that you have to be 100 per cent sure and I don’t think it’s clear.
“I’m not going to run away from Ogilvie, who doesn’t have to challenge himself, but if it’s a red card, I think there’s going to be quite a few red cards handed down next year.”
Matt Bloomfield, University of Oxford:
“We had a chance to win. We had the upper hand in the final minutes of the game.
“We worked hard to get the three points and we are very disappointed that we couldn’t get the three points.
“Nothing was decided today. Me and the players are disappointed that we couldn’t win the game because it was so close.
“At the same time, it’s my job as the leader of the group to pick everyone up for the next game. We can’t get too down. We have five games left, so we have to keep hunting.”
