Red card fully deserved for dangerous Whatmough challenge

No-one could have any complaints about Jack Whatmough's red card with 10 minutes go to against MK Dons on Saturday.

The Portsmouth man lunged two-footed towards Dons substitute Charlie Brown in the centre circle with his side trailing 1-0 to Scott Fraser's first half penalty. Affording referee Martin Coy no choice, Whatmough was shown a straight red card, though Brown was lucky to escape unscathed.

Russell Martin said there could be little argument against the decision given the nature of the tackle, and felt Brown was extremely lucky not to have been taken out by the reckless challenge.

"I was upset by the challenge," he said. "If Charlie leaves his leg there, it could have been really dangerous and I don't think they could have too many complaints. The reaction of our players told you everything you needed to know.

Once you leave the ground with both feet, you're in trouble because you're not in control. They can have no complaints with that, or the penalty. In fact we could have had one just before when Griggy was about to tap the ball in.

"It's a tough job being a referee or a fourth official!"

Portsmouth boss Danny Cowley also said he could have little argument, saying: "I need to see Jack's (incident) back, that's the honest truth. I thought he played the ball but I also thought he was off the floor."