'Flat, lethargic and limited ideas' 'Illusions shattered' - Sunderland fans fume after 3-1 home defeat to Portsmouth

Sunderland’s unbeaten start to the season is over after a disappointing 3-1 home defeat to promotion rivals Portsmouth.
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A John Marquis double helped see Pompey to a comfortable away win in the end, Sunderland finishing with ten men after Luke O’Nien saw red after picking up his second yellow when he conceded a second-half penalty.

It was the club’s first defeat of the campaign but the result and manner of the performance left fans feeling angry and underwhelmed.

Bailey Wright handles the ball.Bailey Wright handles the ball.
Bailey Wright handles the ball.

Here's the best of the fan reaction from Twitter:

John tweeted: “Flat, lethargic and limited ideas.”

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David McKeever added: “Parkinson not good enough. Team not good enough.”

Steve added: “Been found out.”

Darren Ord tweeted: “Playing a back 5 with both O’Nien and Gooch out of position was disastrous.”

Simon Ludlow summed it up as: “Where's the team from the rest of the season gone.”

William Horrigan added: “Pathetic.”

Steven Brown added: “Start with Graham and Grigg up top and Wyke no where near the squad.”

Kevin O'Hara tweeted: “Normal service is resumed.”

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And Andy posted: “We are always going to be susceptible to results like that whenever we concede just because of how few goals we've got in us.

“We're capable of grinding our way to promotion IMO but it will have to be a long grind due to the lack of pace, creativity and goals.”

Over on our SAFC WhatsApp service, one fan summed it up as: “Illusions Shattered.”

Another said: “Poor performance worst of season lot of work to be done.”

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