Source: Daily_Mail
Portsmouth 2 Sunderland 1: Pompey go marching on but fans fear worst
Two games from Wembley, one step from oblivion: it was the end of another typical week at Portsmouth Football Club.[LNB]What began with a fruitless trip to the High Court to try to hold back one of the waves of financial turbulence threatening to swamp the club will end with the club in the hat for the fifth round of the FA Cup, thanks to a hero of their 2008 triumph.[LNB]On a day of protests and pitch invasions against the latest regime atFratton Park, how appropriate it was that John Utaka should score thegoals which enabled Portsmouth to come from behind to beat Sunderland.[LNB] Flying start: Darren Bent gives Sunderland the lead on 15 minutes[LNB]Utaka is a symbol of everything that has gone right and wrong at the club in recent times. It was his cross that led to Kanu's winning goal against Cardiff in the 2008 final and his two fine goals yesterday mean the team are two games away from returning to Wembley for at least a semi-final.[LNB]Assuming, of course, that there is still a football club at Fratton Park come April. Because it is decisions like the one to sign Utaka in 2007 for £7 million and on an £80,000-a-week deal which have left the club teetering on the brink.[LNB]Before the game, hundreds of supporters marched on Fratton Park todeliver their verdict on years of mismanagement and the laissez-faireattitude of the Premier League towards regulation of the richest leaguein the world. Holding placards with the words 'Fit and proper?', thefans demanded 'Where's all the money gone?', 'We want out club back'and 'Who the f*** is al-Faraj?' in reference to the latest, elusiveowner of a club formed in 1898. They reserved the worst abuse for chiefexecutive Peter Storrie, who had earlier in the week appeared in courton a tax evasion charge and had to listen to a blunt verdict on hisintegrity.[LNB] Parity restored: Portsmouth's John Utaka guides the ball past Sunderland's Phil Bardsley to make it 1-1[LNB] [LNB]At 3pm, though, a football match broke out, and for half an hour events on the pitch looked unlikely to provide relief from problems off it. Only 10,315 turned up and they soon saw Michael Brown join an injury list which meant manager Avram Grant could pick only 16 players, even before this week's firesale.[LNB]Darren Bent gave Sunderland a 15th-minute lead and the frustration in the stands spilled over in the 32nd minute when two home fans ran on to the pitch. Aaron Mokoena put his arm round one as he escorted him off the pitch and the show of passion seemed finally to inspire Portsmouth.[LNB]They were level three minutes before half-time, when the Sunderlanddefence allowed Mark Wilson's long ball to reach Utaka, who headed overthe outof- position Craig Gordon.[LNB] Proper angry: Portsmouth fans protest before the Cup tie[LNB]Just before the hour, a long headed clearance by Younes Kaboul dropped for Utaka to run on and finish with the kind of composure rarely seen in his two and a half years at the club. [LNB]It was a familiar story for Sunderland manager Steve Bruce, who wentinto the game with his own problems after the 7-2 humbling at Chelseathe previous weekend. [LNB]'It's the umpteenth time we've taken the lead and not been able tohold on to it,' said Bruce. 'I can't fault the attitude but the goalswe gave away were basic, bad goals.[LNB]'We have to defend better than we are at the moment. They got two goalsthat were rank bad goals and it took us a while to get over that. Butat least there was a response.'[LNB] Up and away: Portsmouth's John Utaka celebrates[LNB]In truth, Sunderland were awful for most of the second half until a late surge when Asmir Begovic superbly saved Bent's free-kick and Kevin- Prince Boateng cleared a close-range shot with the away players screaming that the ball had crossed the line.[LNB] But, for once, it was Portsmouth's day. Grant declined to speak after the game, but coach Paul Groves said: 'The players showed great togetherness. Credit to the fans, as well. Obviously they have their frustrations, but once they came into the stadium, they got behind the players and played a massive part.' What sort of team they have to support in the coming weeks and months, if any, remains to be seen.[LNB] Bruce's loan moan: Sunderland insist Benitez must pay up for hitman JonesJames future remains unclear as Stoke boss Pulis reveals new hold-upPORTSMOUTH FC
