Why John Mousinho spat happened in Portsmouth v Coventry City - Frank Lampard has revealed it | OneFootball

The Sky Blues and Pompey bosses were involved in a heated touchline exchange in the first half

Coventry City manager Frank Lampard has revealed exactly why a well-publicised touchline exchange between himself and Portsmouth boss, John Mousinho, took place on Tuesday night.

At the end of the Championship encounter, the Sky Blues emerged victorious for the fifth successive game with a 2-1 victory at Fratton Park, but it's fair to say that plenty of the post-match talking revolved around an incident involving both figures in the technical area midway through the first half as the home side were aggrieved a penalty wasn't awarded by Gavin Ward amid claims that Jay Dasilva had handled a cross from in-form Pompey attacker, Yang Min-hyeok.

With Mousinho, unsurprisingly, feeling a sense of injustice in the heat of the moment, what followed was a spat between himself and Lampard, who has largely been in the headlines for much more pleasant reasons since taking charge of the West Midlands side 11 months ago, as a remarkable upsurge in momentum has continued in the opening 11 matches of the current season, with City still the only side across the Premier League and EFL with an unbeaten record to defend, having now won seven and drawn four.

Portsmouth have, in recent years, been viewed as a 'bogey' side for Coventry, which would have only increased the satisfaction for those who made the arduous journey down to the South Coast.

Yet, whilst he was left to praise another battling display from his side, Lampard also clarified his stance on the aforementioned touchline fracas, as well as further incidents which led to Pompey frustrations over the course of the 90 minutes.

Frank Lampard issues stance amid John Mousinho flashpoint in Coventry City success over Portsmouth

Both Lampard and Mousinho are among the cluster of the most highly-rated homegrown managers and head coaches in the EFL and the country as a whole, which comes down to a reflection of their conduct, as well as tactical matters.

However, the duo were, as previously mentioned, involved in a rather heated exchange as City's Welsh international full-back was judged to have handled Yang's cross on 22 minutes, with Ward unmoved by the appeals of the masses as the score remained goalless at the time.

Coventry went on to emerge 2-1 victors with Brandon Thomas-Asante continuing his fine scoring form with a brace, whilst Makenzie Kirk netted a 96th-minute consolation for the Blues.

Speaking in his post-match press conference, Lampard claimed that his opposite number was trying to pressurise the match officials into awarding spot-kicks and free-kicks the way of the home side, as well as stating this isn't behaviour we are used to seeing from Mousinho.

"I haven’t seen it again, but John managed to have an incredible viewpoint on it and thought it was a penalty," Lampard said.

"I didn’t think it was at the time - and that’s the end of it.

"Look, I think it’s one of those stadiums. The crowd are behind the team and there can be pressure on the referee. The added pressure on the fourth official, I don’t think is necessary," he added.

"It’s the emotion of the game, I understand it. I’d would do similar in different terms. Emotions get the better of you when you want something, but I don’t think it (the penalty appeal) was clear at all.

"This is the game. I don’t know what John would say, but we are working for our football clubs. We work and prepare for it and we have our emotions. We give them and people give them in different ways.

"If someone wants to stand by the fourth (official) and give their pressure, whether that’s tactical, that’s the emotions and I understand it. That’s not my style, but I understand it," the Sky Blues boss concluded.

Amid the pressure and frustration which came from the home players, management and supporters towards the man in the middle, it is a testament to Coventry that they were able to silence the Fratton Park crowd and emerge victorious once again.

Indeed, no side in the Championship has a better away record than the Midlands outfit, who have accrued 14 of their 25 points thus far away from the CBS Arena, with the bucketloads of goals they have also scored being shared nicely throughout the side.

Next up for the Sky Blues is a home clash with Watford on Saturday lunchtime.