Pompey once again celebrated a share of the spoils as Championship action returned to Fratton Park. The deadlock ruled the day in a goalless draw against Luton Town, but not without its fair share of controversy.

Luton Town’s manager, Rob Edwards, criticized the dubious decision that led to goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski being sent off after receiving a second yellow card for time-wasting. The match saw high stakes as Pompey clashed with a team that had tasted Premier League football just last season.

The encounter was not short of excitement as chances abounded in a lively first half. However, the pivotal moment arrived in the 31st minute when Kaminski’s challenge on Paddy Lane resulted in a second yellow and subsequent red card. While the second yellow was widely accepted, Luton’s frustrations stemmed from the initial booking for time-wasting.

Edwards expressed his dissatisfaction with the referee’s decision, questioning the rationale behind penalizing Kaminski for supposed time-wasting early in the game. He lamented the disruption caused by the red card, altering Luton’s strategy and making the remaining game more challenging.

Despite being a man up, Pompey struggled to breach Luton’s resilient defense throughout the match. Contentious referee decisions, including the denial of a penalty to Connor Shaughnessy, added to the tension on the field.

As the match concluded in a draw, Pompey’s manager John Mousinho reflected on facing two strong promotion contenders and securing crucial points from both encounters. With a daunting trip to Middlesbrough looming on the horizon, the challenges for Pompey in the Championship are only set to intensify.