John Mousinho didn’t understand the commotion surrounding Colby Bishop’s crucial equalizer in Portsmouth’s 3-2 victory over Reading. Bishop, Portsmouth’s leading goal-scorer this season with nine goals, leveled the score just before half-time in a match that saw several stoppages.
Referee Martin Coy added a minimum of eight minutes to the first half due to disruptions caused by home fans protesting against owner Dai Yongge by throwing tennis balls onto the pitch. These interruptions did not favor Portsmouth, as they fell behind 2-0 with goals from Lewis Wing and Charlie Savage.
Portsmouth’s Tino Anjorin, on loan from Chelsea, reduced the deficit with his first league goal for the club just after the half-hour mark. Colby Bishop then calmly slotted in a pass from Paddy Lane across the goal, tying the score just before half-time.
The timing of the goal upset the home team’s dugout, as they believed the half-time whistle should have been blown earlier. However, Mousinho stated that he and the opposing manager, Ruben Selles, were aware of the amount of time remaining in the first half. He emphasized the importance of patience in Portsmouth’s approach as they sought to equalize before halftime.
Anyone else exhausted after that?! Well #Pompey march on – and here are my player ratings after that remarkable 3-2 win at Reading. https://t.co/CtKrxnNOne
— Neil Allen (@pn_neil_allen) October 28, 2023
Mousinho explained, “We knew that it was going to be eight minutes added, and it was scored before then. I don’t think they were particularly happy with that, but both benches knew, and it was scored before then. I probably seem a bit peculiar in that I put my timer on!”
He also praised the team’s patience and adherence to the game plan, focusing on the importance of delivering the ball into the box effectively. Portsmouth’s timely equalizer allowed them to enter the break with a 2-2 score and gave them momentum in the second half.
Portsmouth went on to secure the victory with Terry Devlin scoring the winning goal in the 58th minute. This win extended their unbeaten start to the season and provided them with a six-point lead over second-placed Oxford, who only managed a draw against Wycombe.
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