Bobby Campbell guided Portsmouth to an impressive win over his former employers as Fulham slumped to their second defeat of the season at Craven Cottage this afternoon.
A controversial goal secured victory for Portsmouth, however. It came in the 60th minute when Bobby Doyle, the elegant midfield maestro, burst through the middle of the pitch after picking up possession and went on a rampaging fifty yard run. Blond forward Alan Biley looked yards offside when Doyle released the ball and, although the linesman J. K. Taylor flagged, referee Derek Brazier gave a goal after Biley had beaten Jim Stannard with a close range header.
A furious Malcolm Macdonald raged afterwards: “It destroyed us and gave Portsmouth back their confidence. I was annoyed with my own players’ lack of professionalism – you are always taught to play to the whistle. It looked like our defenders stopped in unison once the linesman’s flag went up.”
Portsmouth were already a goal to the good after taking a third-minute lead when Mark Hateley headed home a free kick from Alan Rogers.
FULHAM: Stannard; Brown, Gale, Lock, Marshall, Parker, Scott, Houghton, Wilson, Coney (Tempest 75), Davies.
PORTSMOUTH: Knight; Aizlewood, Tait, Money, Ellis, Dillon, Doyle, Webb, Rogers, Biley, Hateley.
GOALS: Hateley (3), Biley (60).
REFEREE: Derek Brazier (Northamptonshire).
ATTENDANCE: 10,672.
