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Michael Appleton slams referee after defeat

Portsmouth boss Michael Appleton believes referee Kevin Friend allowed opposition players to influence his decisions during his side's 1-0 defeat to West Ham.

Portsmouth boss Michael Appleton has slammed referee Kevin Friend following his side's 1-0 defeat to West Ham.

Portsmouth were reduced to ten men just before the hour mark when David Norris was sent off for a tackle from behind.

Appleton disagreed with Friend's decision, suggesting that the West Ham players were influencing the referee.

"It was not a sending-off, it was harsh. I do not think it was a two-footed challenge and it was not a tackle from behind," said the 36-year-old manager.

"The biggest disappointment was I have never seen a red card pulled out of a pocket so quickly in my life. We were put on the back foot after that. It was not a penalty. It was harsh. I think there was two or three West Ham players refereeing the game. We should have had a handball at the end as well.

"You need the referee to be strong and I do not think he was. I felt some of the West Ham players were having an influence on his decisions."

The win keeps West Ham level on points at the top of the Championship table, while Portsmouth are languishing down in 17th place.

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Tables header RHS
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5Barnsley4521121281631875
6Lincoln CityLincoln4520141165382774
7Oxford UnitedOxford Utd4521111377552274
8Blackpool4521101463451873
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10Wycombe WanderersWycombe451614155955462
11Leyton Orient451711175054-462
12Exeter CityExeter451710184559-1461
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14Northampton TownNorthampton45178205665-959
15Bristol Rovers45169205266-1457
16Charlton AthleticCharlton451120146464053
17Reading451511196568-350
18Shrewsbury TownShrewsbury45139233464-3048
19Cambridge UnitedCambridge451211223961-2247
20Burton Albion451210233964-2546
21Cheltenham TownCheltenham45128254063-2344
RFleetwood TownFleetwood45913234672-2640
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RCarlisle UnitedCarlisle4579294179-3830


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