Referee handed Southampton v Portsmouth posting after Fratton controversy with officials appointed
Referee handed Southampton v Portsmouth posting after Fratton controversy with officials appointed.
The EFL have confirmed the appointment of the key men who could have a major impact in the south-coast derby – with one figure already facing criticism after a Pompey Championship game this term.
The EFL have confirmed the officials who will take charge of the south-coast derby on Sunday.
And there’s a role for a figure who’s been at the centre of Pompey controversy already this season in the Championship.
South-coast derby official caused Fratton anger this season
The referee assignments for this weekend’s games were announced this morning, with all eyes on the men in charge of maintaining order at St Mary’s Stadium at midday.
Matthew Donohue will referee the game, with Richard Woodward and Jacob Graham serving as his assistants. Pompey fans will be familiar with the fourth official, Stephen Martin, who has been tasked with keeping things calm on the touchline.
If you need reminding, Martin was in charge of the Blues’ only league defeat this season, a 2-1 Fratton loss to Norwich City last month.
The Staffordshire native came under fire after he failed to award a late penalty kick after Connor Ogilvie was brought down in the box by Jacob Wright.
Martin did not point to the spot, much to the chagrin of the home crowd, with Ogilvie later insisting he was caught by the Canaries player, and replays appearing to substantiate that claim.
The Pompey manager slammed Martin’s decision as’strange’ and ‘bad’, claiming it was a ‘certain penalty’ before asking an explanation.
Mousinho stated at the time: “I thought it was a penalty on Connor.” As soon as he sounded the whistle, I assumed he was going to call the penalty.
‘I thought we deserved it with the build-up of pressure, and I thought it was a curious decision that didn’t go our way.’ I believed it was the pattern of the day:
the penalty does not go in, and we do not receive a second penalty. John Swift’s one comes back off the bar, and Wadds’ one at the end, which he had been burying in pre-season, is not buried.
That was the theme of the day. ‘There was certainly touch, and he brought him down in the box, so I thought it was a clear penalty. ‘I’ll go unpack it with the referee, but I thought that was a bad call.’
Pompey have enjoyed little success under south-coast derby ref
Pompey fans may be concerned about their team’s record with Donohue in the centre. He previously officiated six of their games during a six-year span, during which the Blues only won once.
That occurred after Fleetwood were beaten 5-2 in December 2018, and he also oversaw a 1-0 defeat on the Fylde Coast two years later, as well as a 4-0 Carabao Cup loss to Brighton in September 2020.
Donohue managed three Championship games for Pompey last season. Plymouth drew with Middlesbrough in August and Sheffield United at home in September, before winning 2-1 at Fratton Park in February.
Southampton hasn’t had much success in games officiated by Donohue. He blew the whistle three times for them during the 2023-24 season: a 3-1 loss to Bristol City, a 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough, and a 2-1 win against Leeds.
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