Match Day Thread Sunderland v Pompey

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Forget Liverpool and Manchester City – the four-way battle for League One promotion promises to be a much more dramatic contest.

Luton and Barnsley currently lead the way, but Saturday offers up a heavyweight battle at the Stadium of Light between fourth-placed Sunderland and Pompey in third.

Kenny Jackett’s side know that victory in their three remaining fixtures would be enough to guarantee Championship football next term.

Following their long trek to Wearside, the Blues finish the campaign with home tests against Peterborough and Accrington.

Even three straight wins would not necessarily be enough for the Black Cats, though, who visit Fleetwood and Southend after facing Pompey.

Jack Ross’ side are currently four points adrift of second spot and would be reliant on Barnsley slipping up.

Sunderland are looking to make an immediate return to the Championship following consecutive relegations.

It has left them competing in English football’s third tier for the first time since the 1987/88 campaign.

Their hopes have been hit by collecting a solitary success from the past four games, including an incredible 5-4 home defeat to Coventry.

Pompey fans will still be savouring the most recent meeting between the sides – that thrilling penalty shoot-out triumph at Wembley in the final of the Checkatrade Trophy.

But their team also came out on top in the last league meeting before Christmas, with Gareth Evans, Ronan Curtis and Ben Thompson all on target in a 3-1 win.

TEAM NEWS
Omar Bogle (ankle/knee) and Jack Whatmough (knee) are the only players currently sidelined for Pompey.

Sunderland midfielder Duncan Watmore will miss the rest of the season with ankle ligament damage, but Aiden McGeady is likely to feature, despite suffering from a fractured foot.


HEAD TO HEAD
Overall
Pompey: 34 wins
Sunderland: 37 wins
33 draws

At Sunderland
Pompey: 9 wins
Sunderland: 26 wins
16 draws

TICKETS
Pompey have sold their full allocation of tickets and no more will be made available.

Sunderland have revealed that supporters with seats in rows 3-5 will be relocated to a different area of the away section and should enter through turnstiles 69 and 70.

MESSAGE FROM SUNDERLAND

Sunderland AFC is looking forward to welcoming Portsmouth FC supporters to the Stadium of Light tomorrow. A crowd of over 40,000 is expected for the game and the stadium and surrounding areas will be extremely busy.

With an away attendance of just over 3,000, the away turnstiles (numbers 69-74, located in the Carling north stand upper) will also be very busy. Sunderland AFC strongly recommends that supporters travelling from Portsmouth arrive at the stadium in good time to avoid potential queues or delays.

The turnstiles will open at 1.30pm and catering and bar facilities will be available inside the stadium. Supporters are also advised that safety procedures will be in place, with security checks at the turnstiles and within the stadium itself.

We kindly ask supporters to show patience during these checks, which are designed to ensure the safety of all those visiting the Stadium of Light.

We wish Portsmouth FC supporters a safe journey to Sunderland.

BETTING

Sunderland are the 6/5 favourites with Sky Bet to secure all three points, while Pompey can be backed at 21/10.

 

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Stadium of Light

 

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James Vaughan makes his first Pompey start today, against former club Sunderland

 

Match kicks off !!

 

Overhead kick by McGeady hits the post. 4th minute.

 

McGeady booked for a nasty foul on Tom Naylor. 7th minute.

 

1-0 to Sunderland. Flanagan header from a free kick. 9th minute.

 

Honeyman booked for another nasty foul on Nathan Thompson. 13th minute.

Two of their players booked in the first 13 minutes

 

Nathan Thompson booked for a foul on McGeady. 15th minute.

Commentators on Radio Solent saying that Thompson got the ball first !

 

McGeady stamps on Nathan Thompson's foot. Thompson down injured. No second yellow card for McGeady, who apparently claims in the press that he is playing with a broken foot !!

 

Ben Close shot tipped around the post by McLaughlin.

 

GOAL FOR POMPEY !!!!!!!

 

1-1 now. Lee Brown hit the post with a shot, and Jamal Lowe scores from the rebound. His 17th goal of the season. 24th minute.

 

Attempt missed. Matthew Clarke header from the right side of the box misses to the right following a set piece situation. 30th minute.

 

Christian Burgess puts the ball in the back of the net, but disallowed.