Portsmouth 3-1 Sunderland

Portsmouth secured their Premiership survival for another season after condemning Sunderland to a nervous last day with a 3-1 victory. The Black Cats have their survival fate in their own hands yet have to overcome the obstacle of Chelsea.

Portsmouth kit

As usual, Portsmouth wore their home kit during the encounter at Fratton Park. The home shirt is predominately blue with gold details including the side panels and a trim on the edge of the sleeves. Manufacturers Canterbury place their gold logo centrally underneath the collar whilst the club badge sits directly underneath it. Manufacturers “OKI Printing Solutions” take up a large part of the shirt centre with their logo in a gold typeface.

Sunderland kit

Although they were away from home, Sunderland still wore their home kit as there was no colour clash with Portsmouth. The shirt contains red and white vertical stripes that continue running down into the sleeves. Manufacturers Umbro place their black logo in the top right of the shirt whilst the club badge sits in the top right. Sponsors “Boylesports” place their large black and small blue logos in the centre of the shirt.

 

A fast paced and entertaining match saw Peter Crouch hit the post and have to watch the ball dribble along the goalline before Anton Ferdinand managed to just poke clear. Kieron Richardson wasted Sunderland’s first real chance on the half hour mark as Kenwyne Jones knocked the ball back to him only for Richardson to blaze over the bar from the edge of the area. Jones then replicated Crouch’s header as he headed a Steed Malbranque cross against the post only to watch the ball roll agonisingly across the goalline and then to safety.

Following Portsmouth pressure at the start of the 2nd period, Sunderland scored with their first real attack of the half. Centre back Calumn Davenport got free down the right and crossed for Jones to head in for 1-0. However, the visitors relief didn’t last long as a clearance struck Grant Leadbitter and rebounded to the unmarked John Utaka who scored his first goal of the season. Utaka doubled his tally just minutes later as a long kick upfield was woefully midjudged by Ferdinand giving the Portsmouth striker an easy chance to put his side 2-1 ahead. Once again, the visitors failed to be clinical when given opportunities. Eventually they were made to pay as Armand Troare far space at the far post to drill past the despairing Martin Fulop in goal.

The result leaves Sunderland in a dogfight on the last day of the season along with Hull, Newcastle and Middlesbrough for that all important Premier League survival.