An early Wilson Isidor strike at the Stadium of Light condemns Portsmouth to a 4th consecutive away defeat.
Captain Marlon Pack sees red as Portsmouth are defeated 1-0 at the Stadium of Light at the hands of Regis Le Bris’ Play-Off chasing Sunderland.
The only goal of the game was scored within the first 10 minutes but it was a second half red card for the Blues skipper that gave the action in the second 45 something to talk about.
John Mousinho’s side still sit just narrowly above the drop-zone on goal difference in 21st place, just ahead of Hull City in 22nd and Cardiff City in 23rd.
One positive for Portsmouth was new signing Rob Atkinson making his debut, following the 26-year-old joining on loan from Bristol City this past Friday.
The former Eastleigh and Oxford man gave Pompey some solid stability at the back in his short 20-minute cameo, when he came on Paddy Lane just seconds after Pack’s straight red card after the hour mark.
Sunderland took the lead in just a mere seven minutes, when Zenit Petersburg loanee Wilson Isidor was left in acres of space ahead of Marlon Pack and Ryley Towler, finishing off Eliezer Mayenda’s through ball under the legs of Nicholas Schmid to make it 1-0.
Mayenda had a chance to make it two just minutes later, but the Spaniard could not quite hit the target but instead struck the side netting not giving Schmid much to do.
Half-time: Sunderland 1-0 Portsmouth
Pompey made no changes at half time, however Sunderland brought off Ajibola Alese who was struggling with an ankle injury, he came off for former Tottenham full back Dennis Cirkin ahead of the second half.
Portsmouth eventually eased themselves into the game, when they had a corner saved by Anothony Patterson who threw the ball in the air, but Ryley Towler attacked the ball which referee Thomas Bramall was not happy with, giving the Blues number 4 a yellow card.
Zack Swanson was then booked five minutes later, when he brought down Mayenda on the edge of the area, but no penalty was given for the Black Cats.
Then just before the seventieth minute, Marlon Pack left Wilson Isidor one on one with Schmid, but the Pompey skipper had no choice but to pull the Frenchman's shirt, giving the referee no other solution but to issue Pack a straight red card for violent conduct.
Atkinson was given the captains armband for the remainder of the 90, and the Bristol City loanne made a good account of himself with numerous blocks from Sunderland chances.
Mousinho’s side kept trying to pile on the pressure for The Mackems, who certainly sat back and let Portsmouth attack for the final twenty minutes of the game.
Colby Bishop had a chance late on, but the number 9 could not quite get onto the end of Callum Lang’s cross.
Substitute Owen Moxon had a golden chance late on, when the former Carlise midfielder hit the ball on the volley, but his effort sadly was not a reminiscence from his goal at home to Derby last season.
Full-time: Sunderland 1-0 Portsmouth
Next up: It's away from Championship action for Portsmouth as this Friday, John Mousinho’s side make the short trip up to Adams Park for an FA Cup 3rd Round clash with Wycombe Wanderers – 7:45pm kick off.
Championship action will resume on Wednesday the 15th of January when Portsmouth visit Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park to play a fixture that was called off in the back end of November due to a waterlogged pitch.
This time Pompey will travel up to Lancashire in hopes of achieving their first away since a 2-1 win at QPR in October, which was also Portsmouth’s first Championship win of this season.
Sunderland: 1. Patterson (GK), 32. Hume, 26. Mepham, 13. O’nien, 32. Alese (3. Cirkin), 4. Neil (C), 7. Bellingham, 10. Roberts, 12. Mayenda, 22. Aouchiche (30. Aleksic) , 18. Isidor (Formation: 4-2-3-1)
Unused Subs: 21. Moore (GK), 15. Rusyn, 24. Connolly, 33. Hjelde, 41. Johnson, 47. Samuel-Ogunsuyi, 50. Jones
Manager: Regis Le Bris
Goals: Isidor 7’
Bookings: Mepham 90+2’
Portsmouth: 13. Schmid (GK), 3. Ogilvie, 7. Pack (C), 4. Towler, 22. Swanson (35. Atkinson), 32. Lane (24. Devlin) 8. Potts (Saydee), 21. Dozzell (Moxon) 23. Murphy, 49. Lang, 9. Bishop (Formation: 4-2-3-1)
Unused Subs: 31. Archer (GK), 2. Williams, 16. McIntyre, 18. Sorensen, 30. Ritchie
Manager: John Mousinho
Bookings: Towler 58’, Swanson 64’, Pack 67 (RED)
Referee: Thomas Bramall
Venue: Stadium of Light
Attendance: 39,84
The post-match analysis from today's game on Wearside is now available to listen back to - Jake Smith, Henry Deacon and Cliff de Gordon were on hand to provide full analysis on Pompey Live: Extra-Time!
Make sure you tune in for the next instalment of The Football Hour on Express FM this Monday (January 6th) evening from 6pm to hear more reaction to the Blues' Championship defeat at the Stadium of Light.
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