Portsmouth boss Paul Hart has rubbished Glen Johnson's dismissal during yesterday's 0-0 draw with Hull City.

The England defender's miserable afternoon at the KC Stadium was capped in the 80th minute when he was shown a second yellow card after a collision with Dean Marney.

Johnson seemed to be the innocent party but the player had been fortunate not to have been booked twice after a number of indiscretions in the first half.

Hart said: "Looking at the tackle - was it a booking? I don't think it was.

"In real time I couldn't really see but having seen what I have seen later I think it is difficult to understand."

Johnson escaped an early booking after reacting angrily to a foul by Craig Fagan.

Referee Chris Foy eventually took his name after he kicked out at Kamil Zayatte but then only warned him after a crude challenge on Geovanni.

Hart added: "He had been taking a bit of a wallop, I thought. "Sometimes it is difficult. We know players shouldn't react and we would rather it didn't happen but when you get a couple of belts across the legs it is sometimes difficult."

Hull boss Phil Brown felt Johnson was lucky to stay on the pitch for as long as he did but claimed the game would have been better without his dismissal.

Brown said: "There is a possibility Glen Johnson could have received a second yellow in the first half. You witnessed a very motivated England international, sometimes over the top.

"He spilled over and got himself a yellow card and then seconds later could have been sent off, but I thought that was fantastic refereeing. I don't like to see players sent off."