Nathan Jones is wingeing again. And this time it is about referees.
The former Southampton boss has hit out after Charlton Athletic were beaten 3-1 by Portsmouth. He says referee Leigh Doughty got “a hell of a lot wrong” and he pointed to yellow cards and penalty decisions.
It all sounds very familiar.
Focus On Your Own House First
Jones claimed everything in the first half was a booking. He said the referee contributed to the type of game it became and suggested that dives went unpunished. He also said he was not complaining because it did not impact the result. But then he complained.
Seven Charlton players were booked. Five in the first half. That usually tells its own story.
Jones admitted his side was dominated physically. He described the overall display as inept. He said his defenders, midfielders, and forwards were second-best.
“Pretty much that was an inept performance from us, and probably came in one of the worst games.“
That feels like the real issue.
Pompey scored three times. A Colby Bishop penalty and two long-range strikes from Terry Devlin. Charlton conceded poor goals and, in Jones' own words, “failed to do the basics well.“
Yet the focus drifted back to the officials. It often does with Jones.
A familiar pattern to Saints fans
Southampton supporters will remember this pattern. When results went wrong at St Mary’s, there were often outside factors highlighted. Fine margins. Decisions. Context.
But football is usually simpler than that.
Charlton were beaten by a poor side fighting for survival. They were dominated in battles. They conceded soft goals. Their manager said so himself.
Referees do not decide whether you close down a shot. Referees do not decide whether you win second balls. And referees do not stop you from competing.
Jones said the alarming thing was not the goals but the number of battles his team lost. That should be the headline. Instead, the loudest quotes are about what the referee did wrong.
Managers are emotional, and Jones is among the most emotional of the lot. That is part of the job. But constant noise about officials can become a distraction.
Charlton are in a fight. Portsmouth took three huge points. The table will not change because of post-match words.
Jones would be better served focusing on his own side. On structure. On discipline. On response. Because in the end, results speak louder than refereeing complaints.
Charlton's visit is coming at the right time
For Southampton, the visit of Charlton is coming at just the right time. Still buoyant from doing the double over Leicester in the space of five days, Tonda Eckert's side are pushing hard for promotion.
Most of Southampton's first team will be well-rested after Eckert made ten changes for the FA Cup match on Saturday. Only Ryan Manning, of the eleven that started on Saturday, is likely to be in Eckert's first eleven against Charlton.
Another victory for the Saints could see them break into the top six for the first time this season.
Cheer up, Nathan Jones...oh, what can it mean...