Source: Telegraph
Portsmouth 1 Sunderland 1: match report
A last-ditch lifeline for Portsmouth with Aruna Dindane's injury-time header salvaging a point and how they will hope for one off-the-field when they face administration and even liquidation never mind relegation. [LNB]There were four dismissals and a chaotic, rousing finale as nine-man Sunderland just failed to hold on and record their first victory in 12 matches.[LNB] Related ArticlesPortsmouth seek High Court adjournmentPortsmouth locked in talks with HMRCPremier League tablePremier League actionTelegraph player raterPremier League fixturesReferee Kevin Friend left the field without a friend having wrongly awarded a penalty and wrongly sent off a Portsmouth player. Manager Avram Grant was also sent off at half-time for angrily berating Friend who then also dismissed Sunderland's Lee Cattermole and, in the dying minutes, substitute David Meyler. The referee had a stinker. Portsmouth will hope that another man in black, a High Court judge, will be more helpful. [LNB]The air of resignation had been thick around Fratton Park although it was soon replaced by anger and frustration. Next up AFC Portsmouth, they joked. [LNB]But there was a sense that the humour had a hard edge. This could really be it. [LNB]It meant the contest itself, so important, almost became a minor distraction before it kicked off. But it soon erupted into life. And, again, Portsmouth suffered the damage with Ricardo Rocha sent off a straight red card accused of tripping Darren Bent as he ran through on goal after collecting Kenwyne Jones's flick on. [LNB]Just eight minutes had elapsed although such was the confusion, and vehement arguing from Portsmouth, who claimed that Bent had clipped his own heels, that almost four further minutes passed before Bent calmly beat David James,low from the penalty spot. [LNB]To add further to the bewilderment Hassan Yebda was, at first, shown the card, and was so incensed he refused to go. The Algerian had to be restrained by David James before Rocha, on his home debut, pointed out to the Kevin Friend that it was him who had fouled Bent. Or indeed had not fouled him. Astonishing. [LNB]Portsmouth were reeling. It was some set-back. But they went close when Frederic Piquionne headed back a deep cross to Dindane who, six yards out, shaped to find space only for his low shot to be blocked by Craig Gordon with his legs before Jamie O'Hara had the goalkeeper stretching to try and reach his drive. [LNB]Portsmouth pushed on. But this also made them vulnerable to the counter and when Steed Malbranque was released down the right, Bent should have done better than head wildly over. [LNB]There was hope for the home side in Dindane's pace though not always his control. He forced his way past Michael Turner, won a corner and, from it [LNB]Papa Bouba Diop crashed a shot into the side-netting. There was no questioning Portsmouth's resolve or, clearly, and despite the goal, Sunderland's absence of confidence. They were bereft. [LNB]Portsmouth's sense of grievance grew with two penalty appeals rejected before Marc Wilson slid a pass into Dindane inside the area, he tried to turn Matthew Kilgallon and slipped under the challenge. [LNB]The howls were again ignored by the referee. Grant had seen enough and marched onto the pitch at half-time to confront Friend only to then receive his own marching orders. [LNB]Maybe Friend was rattled for, on 53 minutes, Lee Cattermole charged into a tackle, won the ball but up-ended Angelos Basinas. The referee gave a free-kick, Cattermole hurled the ball into the turf in disgust and received a second yellow card. Now it was 10 v 10.[LNB]Soon Piquionne went down in the area. And again no penalty. But, then, Bent should have settled it. Meeting Jones header, through on goal, his shot was saved by James. What a chance. [LNB]From the corner, Kilgallon hooked the ball against a post with James stranded. Soon after and Bent crossed low, Jones stretched but the ball narrowly evaded him at the far post. It gave Portsmouth a chance as did Meyler's dismissal for elbowing Tal Ben Haim.[LNB]They piled on the pressure and, just as it appeared a done deal, up popped Dindane at the far post. [LNB]
