Phil Smith's player ratings: How Sunderland stars rated at Portsmouth - including 'excellent' Luke O'Nien
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd Dec 2018, 16:06 BST
Updated 8th Jan 2019, 15:54 BST
Luke O'Nien was 'excellent' - despite the defeat
Sunderland suffered only their second defeat of the season at the hands of Portsmouth - but how did the players rate?
Our man Phil Smith has dished out his player ratings after the defeat at Fratton Park, and there's a wide range of marks across the squad. Scroll down and click through the pages to see who shone - and struggled - for Sunderland at Portsmouth:
Picked the ball out of the next three times before he could make a save. Little he could do about any of them and made a good save in the build up to the third. 5
Battled really well in an unfamiliar role and deserved his goal. Couldn't have done much more, particularly in an excellent first half. 7
Really good performance both in attack and defence. Some good play and tenacious defending. Unlucky to be on the losing side. 7
Competed in difficult circumstances against the powerful Oli Hawkins. Did little wrong despite defeat. 6
Switched off at the start of the second half and it turned the game in an instant. Had no complaints with the red card he was shown for a trip on Oli Hawkins. Sunderland never recovered. 4
Struggled with the pace of the game early on but steadied. Thankless task in the second half as the Black Cats were overrun. 5
