14/01/2012 Portsmouth 0-1 West Ham United: You're Kevin Friend!

Notes and pre-match pictures

The West Ham fans filled out the Milton End on Saturday which made for another good atmosphere.

Former Pompey player Gary O'Neil warming up before the match. Another former player, Papa Bouba Diop, played the whole match for the Hammers. Of course Hayden Mullins, a former Hammer, played for Pompey. O'Neil got a trickle of applause as the teams were read out before the match from the home fans gathered. Mullins got a good reception from the West Ham fans. Papa Bouba Diop got little reaction.

There were two key moments in this Championship encounter between Pompey and high flying West Ham United.

The first was the decision to award a penalty to the visitors - Tal Ben Haim adjudged to have fouled Winston Reid in the penalty box. The second was the straight red card shown to David Norris.

Both decisions incensed the home fans in Fratton Park.

Based on the TV replays I've seen since the game I can see why the referee (Mr Friend) gave both decisions.

However, I've also seen incidents like those in plenty of other games this season and decisions not be given.

It's the inconsistency that's the disappointing and frustrating thing and in the case of the sending off the haste with which the red card was shown. There was no time taken to take a breath and consider whether it was a challenge that warranted a red card or not.

Personally, I hate it when players of any side get sent off, it ruins the game as a spectacle - as it did here - I want to see footballers play football not sitting on the bench or in the stand serving a ban.

Pompey can ill afford to have players suspended with such a small squad of players.

Of course Pompey have some 'previous' with Mr Friend.

For example, his decision to send off Ricardo Rocha at Reading last season and incorrectly award a penalty.

For example, his half-time altercation with Avram Grant against Sunderland (actually I seem to recall that Avram stormed on to the pitch and gave him a public b*llocking but that's a story for another day).

Kevin Friend has never endeared himself to the Pompey fans in the past and to be frank has been very poor at times. He did nothing to change that here.

No disrespect to West Ham - they got the goal, they held their lead and closed out the game to secure three valuable points in a very professional manner.

It's not always pretty - beautiful eel pie with a big dollop of thick northern gravy would be one way to describe it - but it's effective and in this division that's what counts.

Good luck to them, they'll surely be going back to The Premier League at the end of the season under the astute stewardship of Sam Allardyce. If they pass Blackburn Rovers on their way then I'm sure many football fans will have a wry smile on their faces.

Pompey had chances in both halves but were unable to convert them.

Greg Halford found himself unmarked in the penalty area but put his header, from a Liam Lawrence cross, over the cross bar.

David Norris had a shot go wide.

Liam Lawrence forced a good save from Robert Green with a rasping drive across goal but nobody was able to follow up.

And Jason Pearce had a deft header at the near post brilliantly saved by Green.

Pompey had plenty of pressure just before the half time break with a series of corners in quick succession but were unable to make the breakthrough.

In the second half Pompey's best chances came towards the end when they had Kitson, Futacs and Benjani up front supported by Lawrence and Huseklepp. Michael Appleton really went for it at the end, he had nothing to lose really.

The hardworking Futacs had a really powerful left footed drive from distance that just went over the bar.

And Lawrence (who shot in to the wall) and Huseklepp (whose shot was deflected over) had free kicks that came to nothing.

You're Kevin Friend

The officials leave the pitch at half-time, having a chuckle about the penalty kick perhaps.

Anyway, with apologies to Queen and the songwriter John Deacon (is there some irony in there somewhere?!) here is a song that any Pompey fan could have written, loosely based on the lyrics of "You're My Best Friend".

Enjoy "You're Kevin Friend".

Ooh you make me livid!
Ev-ery-time you ref Pom-pey!
It's you, you're all I see!
Ooh you make me livid now. Pen-alty?!
Ooh you make me livid!

Ooh you're Kevin Friend and you're really bad!
I've put up with you such a long time!
We're playing West Ham and I want you to know
That my feelings are true!
I really don't like you!
Oh you're Kevin Friend!

Ooh you make me livid!

Ooh I've been wond-er-ing why
Do the Football League keep appointing you?
In rain or shine
You've been crap every time!
We're losing at home, losing at home and
You're Kevin Friend!

Ooh you make me livid!
Whenever you try and ref-er-ree!
Not you! God help me forgive!
Ooh you make me livid now! Red, really?!
Ooh you make me livid!

Oh you're the worst one and
When things turn out bad
You know I'll always be booing
and I'm not the only one!
I don't love the things,
I really don't love the things that you do!
Oh, you're Kevin Friend!

Ooh you make me livid!

I'm not happy, not happy at all!
You're Kevin Friend!
Oh you're Kevin Friend!
Ooh you make me livid!
Oh you're Kevin Friend!


You can see the original Queen video of "You're My Best Friend" here - watch and sing-a-long!



Match action pictures
Here are some pictures I took during the game.

Former West Ham player Tal Ben Haim and David Norris swap passes in front of the fans on the North Terrace.

First half action I - Jason Pearce and Carlton Cole tussle on the edge of the penalty area as other players look on.

First half action II - the Pompey wall lines up to defend a free kick.

Aaron Mokoena leaves the pitch injured after half an hour. Just prior to kick off both Mokoena and Halford did some extra warming up. It transpired that Mokoena was carrying an injury (hamstring I believe) which was obviously a risk too far. Halford had been up all the previous night with a sickness bug. He didn't look very well, lacked energy and was also eventually substituted having given his all.

Adam Webster from Chichester, only just 17 years of age, comes on as a substitute to make his Pompey debut. He didn't have a huge amount to do but when he did get the ball he wasn't afraid to venture forward down the right hand side to try and get the ball in to the box. Ah! The innocence of an exuberant youth! Great to see!

Free kick action - Liam Lawrence fires in a shot towards the end of the match (he hit the wall). Erik Huseklepp took a free kick from a similar position moments later but his shot was deflected for a croner which was signalled but the referee blew the final whistle to call time on proceedings before it could be taken.

Portsmouth versus West Ham United: Stephen Henderson, Tal Ben Haim, Aaron Mokoena (replaced by Erik Huseklepp on 33 minutes), Jason Pearce, Greg Halford (replaced by Adam Webster on 75 minutes), Liam Lawrence (c), David Norris, Hayden Mullins (replaced by Benjani on 83 minutes), Joel Ward, Dave Kitson, Marko Futacs. Substitutes not used: Jamie Ashdown and Ryan Williams.

Attendance: 18,492

Pompey MOTM: the official award went to Jason Pearce

Next up for Pompey: Cardiff City away on Saturday 21st January at 3PM.