• Date: Sat 23 February 2008
  • Venue: Fratton Park
  • Ref: Dowd, P
  • Attendance: 20,139

Portsmouth vs Sunderland

Team Lineups

Portsmouth

David James
Sol Campbell
Sylvain Distin
Hermann Hreidarsson
Glen Johnson
Niko Kranjcar
Lassana Diarra, L
Papa Bouba Diop
Sulley Muntari
Jermain Defoe
Milan Baros (Nwankwo Kanu, 64)

Sunderland

Craig Gordon
Nyron Nosworthy
Phil Bardsley
Jonny Evans, J
Danny Collins
Grant Leadbitter (Dwight Yorke, 79)
Dickson Etuhu
Andy Reid (Michael Chopra, 70)
Dean Whitehead
Daryl Murphy (Rade Prica, 84)
Kenwyne Jones


Live Text Commentary
Full time
 

The whistle goes, and Pompey claim victory over Sunderland with a single goal from the spot from striker Jermain Defoe.

90

Johnson has a great shot on goal, and it fizzes just past the post as fans begin to file out of the stadium.

90

There will be three minutes of added time.

89

A great break by Pompey, and Defoe shows great skill and unleashes a shot on goal, which Gordon puts around the post.

88
Yellow Card
 

Dwight Yorke is booked for a foul on Johnson.

86
Yellow Card
 

Danny Collins is booked for a foul on Glen Johnson.

86

Portsmouth have a free-kick right on the edge of the box, but the effort from Muntari is deflected over the bar.

83
Substitution
 

Rade Prica replaces Daryl Murphy.

80

Kanu and Niko Kranjcar show great pieces of individual skill as Pompey begin to play in a very comfortable manner.

78
Substitution
 

Dwight Yorke replaces Grant Leadbitter.

76

Pompey have taken firm control of this game now, and unless Roy Keane can change something around, it seems that the jouney back to the North East will be very long for the Black Cats.

72

The way this game has gone, that goal could well give Pompey all 3 points, either way, the last 20 minutes should hopefully be a tense affair.

70
Substitution
 

Michael Chopra replaces Andy Reid.

69
Goal
 

Jermain Defoe scores! The Pompey striker slots home from the spot and gives the home side a vital lead.

68

Niko Kranjcar is fouled in the box by Phil Bardsley, and Phil Dowd awards a penalty!

65

Redknapp will be hoping that Kanu can make something happen for Pompey after Baros had a relatively ineffecitive game.

63
Substitution
 

Milan Baros is replaced by Nwankwo Kanu.

59

Lassana Diarra hits a through with just too much strength, and once again Defoe is unable to latch onto it.

56

James comes out to collect a cross, James deserves special mention today, for comming back from a Stomach Virus to play his 158th consecutive league game, a run that started on the 17th January 2004.

52

Grant Leadbitter hits a free-kick with venom that has James rooted to the spot, the ball however, goes just wide of the post.

50

Baros gets a cross into the box, Defoe hits his shot, but it's straight at the keeper and lacks in pace as Gordon saves.

47

Niko Kranjcar curls a free-kick on goal, but the kick is wide of the post.

Second half
 

The second half restarts, and the fans will be hoping that their teams can show more attacking intent in the later 45 minutes than they did the first.

Half time
 

The referee blows his whistle and the teams go into the break all square in a game of few notable chances.

45

There will be 3 minutes of stoppage time to be added.

43

Papa Bouba Diop rises and heads towards goal from a Hermann Hreidarsson cross, but the effort is just wide.

42

Reid strikes a good free-kick, but the wall does its job and deflects the ball off for a corner.

40

Niko Kranjcar is in a dangerous area and squares the ball across the box ... straight to defender Dickson Etuhu, and Sunderland clear.

39

The game is heating up a bit with a few rough challenges going in in the midfield, and it seems that both sides have finally woken up.

36
Yellow Card
 

Glen Johnson is booked for saying one too many words to the referee.

34

Hermann Hreidarsson gets a free header at the back post from a Pompey corner, but he heads just wide.

31

Daryl Murphy receives the ball from Collins inside the box, but he doesn't connect properly with the shot and the effort is a tame one.

29

Johnson mis-kicks an attempted volley on goal, and the ball ends up going out for a throw-in.

26

Reid puts in a good cross and is well cleared by Campbell, however 3 players then go for the same ball and all collide, the incident seems to involve Dioup, Muntari and Kranjcar.

22

Sunderland give away a silly free-kick in a dangerous position near the edge of the box, Muntari steps up and hits it just over the bar.

18

The game has gone into a bit of a lull at the moment, however Pompey have been showing signs of improvement with some decent passing play.

14

Glen Johnson attempts to play a through ball for Defoe, but the ball is just too long, and Defoe was in a very dangerous position there had he received the ball.

11

Phil Bardsley is hobbling off the pitch trying to walk off an injury, and the Black cats hope that he will be alright as the defender gingerly returns.

8

The game has begun rather slowly as Portsmouth show yet more signs of struggling at home.

5

Leadbitter puts in a great ball into the box, Dickson Etuhu strikes it, but the effort deflects away off a defender and to saftey.

2

Muntari tries a shot from range to try and test the Sunderland keeper early on, but his effort is wide.

Kickoff
 

Both sides obtained victory in their last Premiership match, and will be looking to continue that form into today's encounter as Phil Dowd gets this game underway.

Awaiting Kickoff
 

Grant Leadbitter recovers from a broken toe and starts as Dwight Yorke returns to the bench after shaking off a calf problem as Sunderland start with: Gordon, Bardsley, Nosworthy, Evans, Collins, Whitehead, Leadbitter, Etuhu, Murphy, Reid, Jones

Awaiting Kickoff
 

David James shrugs off a stomach virus and starts in goal as Defoe returns after being cup-tied last weekend as Pompey start with: James, Johnson, Campbell, Distin, Hreidarsson, Diop, Diarra, Muntari, Kranjcar, Baros, Defoe