Goals from Marcus Harness, Lee Brown and a John Marquis double condemned the Black Cats to a 4-0 defeat – their worst since suffering the same scoreline in January 2018 under former boss Chris Coleman against Cardiff City.
Despite the treacherous conditions, Pompey were able to adjust and inflict a damaging defeat to the Wearsiders as they were replaced at the top of the League One table.
And without a league fixture this weekend due to the international break, Johnson and his side must sit and reflect on their humiliating defeat on the south coast until they return to action with a trip to Gillingham on Saturday week.
Following Saturday’s wake-up call, we look at all the League One transfer, contract and injury news.
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And without a league fixture this weekend due to the international break, Johnson and his side must sit and reflect on their humiliating defeat on the south coast until they return to action with a trip to Gillingham on Saturday week.
![Portsmouth boss Danny Cowley overspent in the summer according to reports by The News. Cowley’s side enjoyed their best result of the season on Saturday with a comprehensive win over the Black Cats but Blues’ chief executive Andy Cullen explained that American owner Michael Eisner made more money available to Cowley than intended. “In terms of our transfer budget, we actually overspent in the summer,” said Cullen. “We paid money for Joe Morrell later in the transfer window where our owners sanctioned an overspend on the budget. In terms of wages, we also overspent our budget by acquiring Miguel Azeez and Mahlon Romeo on loan.” (Photo by Jacques Feeney/Getty Images)](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmJkODY4NjIyLWFjZTMtNGZjYi1hMTljLWRkNzMxZjJkYzU0Mzo5YzJlMjFiNy1lODk2LTQzMGEtYjVmOS1kNjdjZDdjMTdhMGQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
5. Portsmouth overspent budget
Portsmouth boss Danny Cowley overspent in the summer according to reports by The News. Cowley’s side enjoyed their best result of the season on Saturday with a comprehensive win over the Black Cats but Blues’ chief executive Andy Cullen explained that American owner Michael Eisner made more money available to Cowley than intended. “In terms of our transfer budget, we actually overspent in the summer,” said Cullen. “We paid money for Joe Morrell later in the transfer window where our owners sanctioned an overspend on the budget. In terms of wages, we also overspent our budget by acquiring Miguel Azeez and Mahlon Romeo on loan.” (Photo by Jacques Feeney/Getty Images) Photo: Jacques Feeney
![Rotherham United midfielder Jamie Lindsay has suffered an injury setback after being forced to come off during last week’s win over AFC Wimbledon. The 25-year-old has featured in nine of the Millers’ 11 league games this season but is set for an extended spell on the sideline after boss Paul Warne confirmed results of the scan were bad. "He made an innocuous landing and the force through his leg made his hammy tear quite significantly,” Warne told the Yorkshire Post. "It's a bad result from the scan." (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmIyMDRlMjNiLWQwZDQtNDRlNS1hNmI0LWFjMzljMTEwYWNjZjpjZDliZTlkYy02Y2I4LTQ1OWItYTA2NS02MjYxYTQ3YzM2MGY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
6. Rotherham United to be without key midfielder
Rotherham United midfielder Jamie Lindsay has suffered an injury setback after being forced to come off during last week’s win over AFC Wimbledon. The 25-year-old has featured in nine of the Millers’ 11 league games this season but is set for an extended spell on the sideline after boss Paul Warne confirmed results of the scan were bad. "He made an innocuous landing and the force through his leg made his hammy tear quite significantly,” Warne told the Yorkshire Post. "It's a bad result from the scan." (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images) Photo: Stu Forster
![Plymouth Argyle boss Ryan Lowe admits he’s not concerned about the absence of Pilgrims pair Danny Mayor and George Cooper. The midfield duo both missed Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Lincoln City which moved Lowe’s side up to third in the League One table just two points behind the Black Cats. When asked about the pair, Lowe told Plymouth Live: "They are just not fit yet, that's all I can say. They are here with us, they have trained with us. All we can do is just pray to God that we get these lads fit and firing in the next week. They have got a few days off now, there are lads with (recovery) programmes.” (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjRhNDhiNzlmLTkyYzQtNGI3Yi05ZDZiLTA5YzE3ZWNlMzI1MjozMWY1NWYxZC1lN2ZhLTRlZTItOTQwMi04NDJiYTU0OTM5ZmU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
7. Plymouth boss prays for return of injured duo
Plymouth Argyle boss Ryan Lowe admits he’s not concerned about the absence of Pilgrims pair Danny Mayor and George Cooper. The midfield duo both missed Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Lincoln City which moved Lowe’s side up to third in the League One table just two points behind the Black Cats. When asked about the pair, Lowe told Plymouth Live: "They are just not fit yet, that's all I can say. They are here with us, they have trained with us. All we can do is just pray to God that we get these lads fit and firing in the next week. They have got a few days off now, there are lads with (recovery) programmes.” (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images) Photo: Dan Mullan
![Owls boss Moore has backed his goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrerll to bounce back from the mistake which cost his side in their League One defeat to Oxford United. Peacock-Farrell joined the Hillsborough club on-loan from Premier League side Burnley this summer. “One hundred per cent I back him,” Moore told Yorkshire Live. “He is away on international duty this week and shows the level of pedigree he has. He is a Premier League goalkeeper. He is not a Premier League goalkeeper by chance. He’s there because he deserves to be there.” (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmU5OTg0YjYzLWY1ZDYtNGViNy1hMWM5LTJkOWUwMzdlOWZmYToxZjgyNjM5NS0yYWZhLTQwNTItOGIzYy1iZmE1ZDIyZDYxYmU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
8. Moore backs on-loan Owls keeper
Owls boss Moore has backed his goalkeeper Bailey Peacock-Farrerll to bounce back from the mistake which cost his side in their League One defeat to Oxford United. Peacock-Farrell joined the Hillsborough club on-loan from Premier League side Burnley this summer. “One hundred per cent I back him,” Moore told Yorkshire Live. “He is away on international duty this week and shows the level of pedigree he has. He is a Premier League goalkeeper. He is not a Premier League goalkeeper by chance. He’s there because he deserves to be there.” (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) Photo: Alex Livesey