Portsmouth 2 Watford 1

An erratic refereeing performance by Mr. Foy ultimately helped to condemn brave Watford to defeat at a passionate Fratton Park.

Lomana LuaLua's 89th minute penalty guided Portsmouth to a fifth home win of the season to maintain their European push and spare the blushes of former England goalkeeper, David James who had gifted the Golden Boys the lead with a first-half blunder.

Prior to kick-off Watford manager, Aidy Boothroyd had surprised many in the traveling contingent by selecting Malkay Mackay and Matthew Spring, the latter for his first Premiership start of the season, ahead of big money summer signings, Danny Shittu and Damien Francis. James Chambers, back from a month on loan at Coca-Cola Championship pacesetters, Cardiff City was named amongst the substitutes.

The visitors were clearly up for a battle on a cool sunlit afternoon on the South Coast, and as early as the second minute had fashioned the game's first chance. A free-kick just inside the Portsmouth half by Jay DeMerit found the head of Darius Henderson who managed to flick the ball into the path of Mackay, but the returning Scottish defender could not keep down his left foot shot and only found the crowd from close range.

Portsmouth responded and winger David Thompson soon called Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster into action with a drilled 35-yard free-kick, the on-loan Manchester United star managing to parry to safety.

The pacey LuaLua carved out a chance for himself in the tenth minute, showing great feet to wriggle his way past three Watford defenders before firing over with a 20-yard curler.

DeMerit then came to Watford's rescue six minutes later when he stooped to head away Thompson's teasing right-wing cross, with LuaLua waiting to pounce.

The livewire LuaLua was continuing to cause problems for the Golden Boys and came within inches of the opening the scoring three minutes later when he picked up Niko Kranjcar's threaded pass on the edge of the box before shooting just wide of Foster's right post from 16 yards.

James found himself in trouble midway through the half when he flapped at Hameur Bouazza's cross, but Linvoy Primus was on hand to bail out the veteran former Watford keeper by hacking clear. Television replays showed Primus handled but referee Mr. Foy waved away the visitors' valid penalty appeals.

Nwankwo Kanu nodded across the Watford goal soon after with a back-post header after LuaLua and Thompson had combined down the right.

However, Watford remained a threat on the break and James gifted his old club the opener in the 31st minute when he stupidly came racing out of goal to try and clear Ashley Young's right-wing corner and missed his punch, allowing a grateful DeMerit to send a towering header into an unguarded net from six yards, the American's first Premiership goal.

Watford were forced into change four minutes later when the impressive Bouazza came hobbling off after a late challenge by Thompson, who had already been booked for an uncharitable tackle on the flying Frenchmen much earlier, to be replaced by Tamas Priskin.

Sol Campbell should have leveled eight minutes before half-time when he found himself unmarked from a Pedro Mendes corner but headed hopelessly wide.

Pompey had increased the tempo significantly after going behind though and equalised as half time approached.

LuaLua played in Thompson on the right wing and he picked out Kanu inside the six-yard box. Foster did brilliantly to turn away the Nigerian's initial shot, but could do nothing to stop him thumping the rebound into the roof of the net from the resultant scramble.

Foster pulled off another high-quality save in stoppage time to deny Mendes one of his trademark long-rangers when he came flying across his goal to push a 20-yard power-shot around a post.

Foster did not re-emerge after the interval after picking up a knock on his knee in a collision with Sean Davis just prior to the break, leaving capable deputy Richard Lee to replace him between the sticks.

Almost immediately after the re-start Jordan Stewart was penalised for a challenge on Thompson on the left hand touchline. It appeared that the full back had won the ball cleanly, but not to referee Mr. Foy, who not only gave Pompey a free-kick but booked an amazed Stewart.

Davis then came close to ending his seven-month goal drought when he headed wide from Dejan Stefanovic's cross, and Croat Kranjcar then had Lee sprawling across his goal in the 55th minute when he curled a 20-yard effort just wide after LuaLua had again tormented to Watford defence.

Watford continued to trade blows in a contest that was always feisty and Henderson appeared to have been pushed in the back by Noe Pamarot when trying to collect a centre from Spring. Penalty! Not a chance despite the impassioned pleas from all connected with the visitors.

As tempers began to become more frayed Mackay and Kanu tangled in an unseemly incident just inside the Watford half, but Mr. Foy, who by this time had seemed to have lost all semblance of what was going one merely spoke to both players.

With crucial two points seemingly slipping away from the home side Pompey manager, Harry Redknapp introduced Andy Cole for the tiring Thompson and the veteran striker soon had most of the crowd on its feet but only found the side netting when well placed.

Substitute Lee was becoming much the busier of the two keepers in the closing stages, and had to come quickly out of his goal to save at the feet of the Davis ten minutes from time after he had raced on to Campbell's long punt upfield.

Four minutes from time Portsmouth thought they had snatched the winner from Campbell racking free-kick on halfway, but Cole had clearly obstructed Lee in mid-flight and although the ball ended in the net the goal was chalked off.

Little did the traveling support massed behind Lee know that the main drama was still to follow!

Clever trickery on the edge of the Watford area resulted in the ball squirting into the path of Kanu, who at best was level with the last man, and as the Nigerian entered the box he came into contact with the faintest of faint touches by DeMerit and preceded to dive and fall over like a man shot by a bullet.

To the astonishment of none given his inconsistent afternoon, Mr. Foy unhesitatingly pointed to the spot leaving LuaLua to crush Watford's hopes and incur the wrath of fans, players and most fervently, manager Aidy Boothroyd.

Golden Boys man of the man: Jay DeMerit, did not put a foot wrong all afternoon, scored with a terrific header and unfortunate to be punished for the late penalty incident.