The Bolton boss managed to bite his lip after the final whistle at Fratton Park, stating only that he had disagreed with some of the calls made by referee Paul Howard.
On further review, he saw enough to air his grievance to the EFL’s head of referees, Mike Jones, and not for the first time this season the club’s analysis department compiled a list of clips for him to review at his leisure.
Though he understood nothing could be done, Evatt felt it was vital to highlight some of his gripes, as well as one of the fundamental distinctions between Pompey and Bolton on the night.
“I was disappointed with the referee’s performance on Monday and that isn’t me being sour or looking for excuses,” he said in an interview with The Bolton News. “I don’t believe we’ve been on the right side of some decisions, and I believe the referee was ineffective the other night.”
“I said if after the game and having reviewed it, I think it is poor. George Thomason’s yellow card is ridiculous and if you watch the footage the lad goes down rolling around, then 10 seconds later gets up and starts sprinting, clearly not injured.
“There was a clear foul on Randell Williams before the corner for the first goal, a clear two-handed push in the back. Alex Robertson was extremely fortunate to stay on the pitch after receiving a yellow card for Josh Sheehan, the wiping out Gethin Jones in the box, high on his calf. That could have been a second yellow.
“Decisions didn’t go for us on that night, and I don’t think our team play that game as well as others, so to speak. I think we are a bit nice and naïve, but that’s a different story.”
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