Kwadwo Baah left Portsmouth fans and players enraged. (Image: X/@peterryan9)
Watford’s Kwadwo Baah was sent off following the final whistle after goading travelling fans at Vicarage Road. A controversial clash was settled in favour of the hosts after Rocco Vata’s dramatic 95th-minute winner.
Vata’s goal came after Edo Kayembe had equalised with a penalty for Tom Cleverley’s side, although replays showed contact between Baah and Pompey’s Freddie Potts occurred outside the box.
That incident took place in front of the away fans, who furiously targeted Kayembe thereafter.
After the win was confirmed, Baah responded by heading straight to the Pompey faithful and doing a Fortnite dance. It sparked an angry reaction from the travelling support.
The Portsmouth players were also incensed, with Baah’s Watford team-mates having to restrain them from confronting the Germany Under-19 international. The player himself then further raised tempers by continuing the dance as he jogged away from the melee, before being dragged towards the sideline.
Referee Geoff Eltringham then called the forward over and issued him a second yellow card. It means he’ll now be banned for his side’s game with on Sunday.
Baah has played 19 times in the Championship this season. (Image: Getty)
“We have to admit he’s deserved that one,” said manager Tom Cleverley in his post-match press conference. “We want to win with humility and dignity. look, I want all my players to play at the highest level they can, and with that comes pressure and eyes on you.
“People will try to goad you and that’s what he was sort of reacting to. You can’t react as a top professional footballer. You will get abused and you just can’t react. That’s the nature of the beast and he’ll learn from this.”
Cleverley also accused the opposition players of “losing their heads” after the penalty decision, which came just before the hour mark. And he said he tried to control his own demeanour on the touchline to ensure no panic transferred to his own team.
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Baah has played 19 times in the this season, scoring three goals. That follows him returning to the club from Burton Albion, having spent last season on loan at the League One club.
And his dismissal soured an otherise great day for Cleverley, who was able to reflect on his team maintaining their unbeaten home league record this season. Despite falling behind to Zak Swanson’s first-half goal, the Hornets ensured they have now picked up 29 points out of a possible 33 at Vicarage Road.