‘Probably two red cards’ - Ex-Bristol City player fuming at Liverpool defender in Pompey win over Bristol Rovers

Portsmouth Joe Morrell has claimed that Bristol Rovers defender Jarell Quansah head butted him in the 2-0 win for Pompey at the Memorial Stadium.

The on-loan Liverpool loanee was sent off in the last few minutes of normal time for a foul on the Wales international. In the aftermath, Morrell and Quansah squabbled, and their teammates shortly followed. Referee James Bell showed red to Quansah in the aftermath whilst Morrell got yellow.

Joey Barton did not believe the tackle warranted a red card but admitted he would have to seek clarity as to how many games he would be banned for. Rovers have had three players banned this season by the FA retrospectively when footage has been reviewed.

‘It’s probably two red cards,’ Morrell said to sister website The News. ‘The lad was probably frustrated that we were keeping the ball, he’s gone through the back of me and it was a terrible tackle. Probably should be a red card.

‘I’ve got up, obviously frustrated and then he’s just head butted me. There’s not much more to say other than that.

"It’s probably two red cards and their manager was complaining about it at the end but that probably falls on deaf ears to be honest.”

Morell was one of two former Bristol City academy graduates making the return to the city they once called home. The 25-year-old made six appearances in seven seasons at Ashton Gate. He and Ryley Towler, who left the Robins for an undisclosed fee in January, received boos and chants against them for their links to the red side of Bristol. The Wales midfielder revealed that he used that a source of motivation.

‘I’m one of those players who tries to be on it every game,” he said.

‘I wasn’t more motivated today because it was Bristol Rovers, of course I wasn’t expecting a good reception and that certainly wasn’t the case.

‘There’s probably a few of my ex-school mates who would’ve been hammering me today, which is always nice. I’m someone who does thrive off that.

‘If opposition fans are giving me stick, I’ll try to raise my game as much as I can and prove them wrong and that was definitely the case against Bristol Rovers.”