Story of the day as Portsmouth put four past Sunderland after Marcus Harness and Lee Brown goals plus John Marquis brace at Fratton Park
and live on Freeview channel 276
First-half goals from Marcus Harness, Lee Brown and John Marquis gave the hosts a commanding lead, before Marquis added a fourth in the second half.
Sunderland now have two weeks until their next league game due to international fixtures but will face Lincoln in the Papa John’s Trophy on Tuesday.
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Hide AdHere’s how the game against Portsmouth played out at Fratton Park.
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RECAP: Portsmouth 4 (Harness, 18) (Brown, 33) (Marquis, 45, 61) Sunderland 0
Key Events
- Sunderland XI: Hoffmann, Winchester, Flanagan, Wright, Cirkin, Evans (Neil, 74), O’Nien, Dajaku (Pritchard, 67), Embleton (Doyle, 45), O’Brien, Stewart
- Subs: Burge, Taylor, Pritchard, Neil, Huggins, Alves, Doyle
- Portsmouth XI: Bazunu, Romeo, Raggett, Williams, Freeman, Brown, Morrell, Tunnicliffe, Harness (Thompson, 74), Curtis, Marquis (Harrison, 84)
- Subs: Bass, Harrison, Hackett, Hirst, Thompson, Jacobs, Downing
28’ Cowley encouraging the press
The Pompey boss was clapping his hands frantically there, urging his side to keep pressing high up the pitch.
Sunderland have struggled to break out of their own half.
24’ Over from O’Nien
Sunderland won a free-kick in a dangerous position there as Embleton was fouled on the break.
O’Nien’s effort sailed over the bar though.
18’ Goal Portsmouth (Harness)
Pompey have adapted better to the conditions so far and broke down the left where Brown was allowed too much space.
His low cutback to Harness on the edge of the box was then controlled and converted by the forward, who beat Hoffmann with a low finish into the bottom corner.
11’ Wingers switching flanks
Sunderland have started with Dajaku on the left and O’Brien on the right.
The visitors have struggled to get the ball forward so far with Portsmouth pressing high and not allowing the Black Cats to play out from the back.
Dajaku ran back to try and win the ball back there but was quickly closed down.
Dajaku and O’Brien have now switched flanks.
5’ Pompey stick with a back three
Portsmouth have stuck with a 3-4-3 formation, with Curtis and Harness supporting Marquis.
There is a lot of water in the corner of the pitch where Cirkin is defending on Sunderland’s left.
Pompey have started the brighter and won an early corner as Harness’s shot was deflected over.
The pitch
“We’re top of the league,” chant the Sunderland fans behind the goal.
They will hope they are still singing that later this evening.
Reaction to that side
Looks like McGeady has picked up an injury and hasn’t travelled with the squad. No Nathan Broadhead or Lynden Gooch either.
Interesting to see Johnson stick with Wright and Flanagan at the back with Doyle back on the bench following a back injury.
Leon Dajaku will make his first league start for the Black Cats after an impressive cameo off the bench against Cheltenham.
It will be interesting to see what he can do.
