Watford player sparks brawl with controversial celebration after 95th minute winner
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Kwadwo Baah had to be pulled away by Watford manager Tom Cleverley after his manic celebrations sparked a post-match free-for-all against Portsmouth. Hornets striker Baah was sent off after goading the 2,000 visiting fans following the final whistle as Rocco Vata’s 95th-minute winner broke Pompey’s hearts in a 2-1 win. As a deputation of Portsmouth players rushed to confront Baah, Cleverley ran 40 yards to usher him away before referee Geoff Eltringham showed the fiery German a second yellow card.
Angry Pompey manager John Mousinho was scathing of Baah’s antics, saying: “If one of my players did that, he would be in serious danger of never playing for Portsmouth again.”. And he was equally unimpressed by Eltringham’s handling of a feisty second half, where Watford’s equaliser from a controversial penalty ignited the home side’s fightback.
Mousinho groaned: "I tried to get an explanation from the fourth official and didn't get much of one. I thought the referee's performance, particularly in the second half, was well below the standard we need at this level. "At the time I thought it was no penalty because the referee didn't give a penalty. I don't know how it has been given. I'm furious because we need more. I'm just lost for words about how we have to deal with this every single week. After the penalty, the referee allowed eight players to surround our keeper and [Paddy] Lane gets punched in the face and nothing happens.”.
Cleverley took exception to Mousinho’s comments but gave Baah a rocket afterwards, saying: “I want us to win with humility and dignity. If there’s a bad taste in the mouth it’s because he now serves a suspension. You can’t go over to supporters in a hostile environment and do that.
