‘Utter disbelief!’ – Portsmouth vent fury at referee Josh Smith over a controversial red card in a dramatic 2-2 draw.
The hosts went one up through birthday boy Keshi Anderson with just 9 minutes on the clock, getting on the end of Colby Bishop’s cross.
Pompey went down to 10 men less than 10 minutes later, Connor Ogilvie shown a red card after a heavy challenge on Stanley Mills, contact too high, but the Fratton Park faithful, booed the referee decision.
Guy Whittingham (Ex-Portsmouth manager on BBC Radio Solent): “That is a massive decision by the referee in a game of this significance. He has to be absolutely certain in a game like this. It’s not a good tackle, but he’s hooked his foot around the ball at the same time he has hooked around the Oxford player, it’s his right foot.”
“Fratton Park ERUPTS!”
Keshi Anderson gives Portsmouth the lead against Oxford United 💥 pic.twitter.com/ytHXBJeRRe
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) April 6, 2026
Just minutes after going in front, Portsmouth are down to 10 players as Connor Ogilvie is shown a straight red card 🟥 pic.twitter.com/FSJQ1vcJXm
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) April 6, 2026
Oxford came close to an equaliser 23 minutes in, a cross from Millsm, a touch from Lankshear in the box, and a deflection off Poole led to Myles Peart-Harris having a chance cleared on the line, denied by Schmid.
It deflects off the Pompey defender and falls to Peart-Harris who tries to slot home, only to be denied by a smart Schmid save.
There were boos at half time, with Pompey fans singing “you’re not fit to referee!”
Dan George (BBC Sport reporter at Fratton Park): “The Portsmouth fans are still furious with referee Josh Smith, jumping to their feet and chanting “off, off, off” for every foul that Oxford now commit.
“The Oxford fans reply with chants of “that is embarrassing”, Stan Mills is also getting booed every time he now touches the ball.
“What was initially a positive and encouraged mood amongst the home fans has now become incredibly hostile.”
“For me, it’s not a red card”“It’s a yellow, Oxford wouldn’t be gutted if it was a yellow”
Tim Sherwood and Jamie Mackie react to Conor Ogilvie’s controversial red card 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/sWeWm6h1hm
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) April 6, 2026
Sky pundits summed it up. Not a red in the slightest #Pompey pic.twitter.com/QQLjFoQmZS
— Luke Dunford (@luked1980) April 6, 2026
Ex-Oxford player turned pundit Jamie Mackie speaking on Sky Sports about Ogilvie’s red card: “I don’t think it’s a red card. I’m not convinced the ref would have given it. I think the linesman on that side is quite close, and I think that quite early on they’ve communicated.
“Look, it wasn’t a great touch, and he’s obviously scrambling a little bit, and standing Mills is quick onto it. I just look at it there. Okay. Look, he’s wrapped his leg round him. But I look and go that the studs aren’t really in play. I think it’s not massively high.
“It’s not like if he wrapped his legs around him, and it’s sort of like quad height. It is quite low.”
The second half started, Ciaron Brown had his hands over Corby Bishop as they both went for a high ball in the area. Bishop went down, referee shook his head, Bishop angry at no penalty being awarded.
Then on 49 minutes, Oxford got their equaliser, one to forget for Schmid who parried a shot by Mills, the ball went straight to Brodie Spencer, who netted for his first goal for the club.
Brodie Spencer bags his first U’s goal to bring Oxford United level ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/Qda35RkFEE
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) April 6, 2026
10 minutes after that, a yellow was shown to Spencer for a late challenge on Terry Devlin, Portsmouth fans wanted a red card, shouting ‘Off! Off! Off!’.
More yellows soon followed, Will Vaulks for a soft looking challenge on Caballero, then Dozzell after tripping.
The Pompey outrage upped another level, booked just minutes prior, Spencer avoided a red card following another challenge on Devlin.
On 65 minutes, Marlon Pack was the latest to be booked for barging over Spencer. Home fans fuming again, “you don’t know what you’re doing” they sung. Spencer was subbed off.
Guy Whittingham (on BBC Radio Solent): “The referee has totally lost it here. He’s booked Marlon Pack for a shoulder challenge but doesn’t book Brodie Spencer for the foul earlier on. Fresh energy is needed out there, they’ve put a real shift in have the Pompey players, they’ve got to give it everything, that’s all they can do and hope they get that chance.”
Another yellow, this time for Michal Helik after taking out Keshi Anderson.
Then with just under 10 minutes of the 90 to go, the U’s took the lead thanks to their leading goalscorer Will Lankshear.
But they weren’t in front for long, Portsmouth back above the dotted line ahead of the 3pm kick offs, Andre Dozzell with a 87 minute equaliser.
“10 man Pompey simply CAN’T BELIEVE IT!” 🤯
Will Lankshear ghosts in at the back post to give Oxford United the lead at Fratton Park 🟡 pic.twitter.com/hHo22p4WX8
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) April 6, 2026
“Pompey REFUSING to lie down” 💪
10 player Portsmouth have EQUALISED against Oxford minutes after going behind 😱 pic.twitter.com/7a3HPfHPkV
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) April 6, 2026
