PORTLAND United assistant boss Jamie Symes felt the Blues “deserved” their point in the 1-1 draw at Christchurch.

After missing a succession of chances, Portland went 1-0 down when Ali Zintany’s stunning 25-yarder found the top-right corner.

George Stuttle was then sent off before the break, with Portland insisting the left-back won the ball in a challenge with Ewang Derick.

However, the Blues battled away and won a dubious penalty when Joe Wickham went down in the box after slipping on the ball.

READ MORE: Christchurch 1-1 Portland United - report

Portland also felt a red card could have been shown for a foul on the clean through Wickham seconds before the penalty, which was scored by Brin Doyle for a share of the points.

Speaking to Echosport, Symes analysed the controversial decisions, first looking at Stuttle.

“From where we were, we didn’t feel like it was a straight red,” he said.

“We believed it was a penalty for us because it looked like George got the ball first and then the contact came from the defender.

“Unfortunately, the referee saw it a different way and he had a word with his linesman.

“I thought we reacted really well to that and the second decision, which went for us, I don’t believe was a penalty.

“However, I think it should’ve been a straight red because the pull came before it went into the box.

“It could’ve gone either way. They could’ve gone down to 10 men and we didn’t get the penalty, or we get the penalty. I think we deserved it on overall play.”

Portland travel to Baffins on Saturday (3pm).