Source: Northern_Echo
Sunderland 1 Portsmouth 1
Sunderland 1 Portsmouth 1[LNB] NEARLY victorious, nearly as many home wins as they achieved in the whole of last season, nearly back on track.[LNB] But then look at the league table this morning, and Sunderland are nearly in the bottom half. For all of the progress in the last few months, this remains a club and a season that could still go one of two ways.[LNB] We are a nearly team, admitted a candid Steve Bruce, after Younes Kaboul's scrambled stoppage-time strike robbed his side of two valuable points. But then we have to remember that we are only six months on from nearly being relegated.[LNB] I am confident we will get there because I have already seen glimpses of it, but we have to be better than that. We have to learn from what happened, but we've made decent progress this season and when everyone is fit and raring to go, we'll be fine.[LNB] Nevertheless, a run of one win in seven matches has tempered much of the optimism that accompanied home wins over Arsenal and Liverpool, just as a run of injuries and suspensions has exposed alarming gaps within Sunderland's squad.[LNB] Addressing the latter will be Bruce's priority once the transfer window reopens at the start of next month; addressing the former will be at the top of the agenda when an in-form Aston Villa visit the Stadium of Light tomorrow.[LNB] After failing to see off Pompey despite leading for more than an hour, Sunderland need to make it across the finishing line in order to prevent a worrying wobble becoming something far more serious.[LNB] The longer it takes to record a victory, the harder it will be to achieve it.[LNB] It certainly looked that way on Saturday, with the Wearsiders appearing nervous and fraught in the period leading up to Kaboul's equaliser.[LNB] Leading through Darren Bent's tenth goal of the season in the 23rd minute, Sunderland played the better football, created the better chances, and enjoyed much the better of the game.[LNB] They failed to extend their lead though, with Andy Reid's free-kick against the crossbar the closest they came to a second, and as the game entered its final quarter, a growing sense of panic set in.[LNB] Michael Turner and Paolo Da Silva, so dominant in the first half, became camped on their own 18-yard line. The home side's midfielders took to kicking the ball anywhere in a frantic attempt to clear their lines. And a Portsmouth side who remain rooted to the foot of the table were handed a momentum they had been unable to generate for the rest of the match.[LNB] It would be overstating Pompey's attacking capabilities to say the goal was coming.[LNB] But it would not be harsh on Sunderland's players to suggest they only had themselves to blame once it arrived.[LNB] Confidence is an issue, admitted Bruce. We have a big expectant crowd here, but as a player you have to be able to handle it and handle the ball.[LNB] You can't fear it. This is the Premier League and we pay big wages because people are supposed to be able to handle the situation.[LNB] In the last 15 minutes, we didn't do that. We became edgy. It transmitted from the crowd, but we have to be able to deal with that edginess.[LNB] Instead, the hosts retreated into their shells, and when Frederic Piquionne recycled Jamie O'Hara's corner, Kaboul reacted quickest to stab the ball home from six yards.[LNB] The defender, who came close to joining Sunderland two summers ago, received a second booking for removing his shirt in celebration, but it was the hosts who were left feeling embarrassed. Red faces to match referee Steve Bennett's red card.[LNB] Unsurprisingly, the goal overshadowed everything that had gone before it, but it would be churlish not to acknowledge the quality of some of Sunderland's football as they established a lead.[LNB] Jordan Henderson was bright and inventive in midfield the 19-year-old produced an impudent nutmeg to engineer the crossing position that led to Bent's opener and Nyron Nosworthy, recalled for only his third league start of the season, provided a drive and energy at right-back that cemented his standing as a favourite of the fans.[LNB] I thought Nyron was the outstanding player on the pitch, said Bruce. He epitomises what I like in a footballer he has a heart the size of a lion.[LNB] He has been very patient, but I gave him a new deal six weeks ago and said, Your chance will come'.[LNB] He might not have the best technical ability although he had in this game but he's waited patiently and given me a huge problem for Tuesday night.[LNB] With Villa travelling to Wearside on the back of an away win at Manchester United, Bruce will be hoping that is both the beginning and end of the problems that come his way.[LNB] Match facts Goals:[LNB] 1-0: Bent (23mins, hooked in from eight yards after Reid headed Henderson's cross back across goal)[LNB] 1-1: Kaboul (90mins, scrambled home from close range after Sunderland failed to clear O'Hara's corner)[LNB] Bookings: Cana (25mins, foul), McCartney (34, foul), Hreidarsson (46, ungentlemanly conduct), Henderson (68, foul), Kaboul (78, foul), Bent (78, ungentlemanly conduct), Ben Haim (78, ungentlemanly conduct)[LNB] Sending-off: Kaboul (90mins, second yellow card, overcelebration)[LNB] Referee: Steve Bennett (Orpington) - Had to dismiss Kaboul once the defender's top was off 6[LNB] Attendance: 37,578[LNB] Entertainment: [LNB] SUNDERLAND (4-4-2):[LNB] 6 Fulop: Couldn't have done a lot with the goal, but doesn't really command his box[LNB] 8 NOSWORTHY: Provided some welcome drive and energy down Sunderland's right flank[LNB] 6 Da Silva: Kept Kanu quiet for the whole of the game and looked more assured than he had at Wigan[LNB] 6 Turner: Won a succession of headers, but dropped far too deep as the game progressed[LNB] 6 McCartney: Produced a steady performance after passing a late fitness test[LNB] 5 Campbell: Preferred to Malbranque on the right, but never really tested Hreidarsson at full-back[LNB] 6 Cana: Bossed the midfield in the first half, but failed to exert the same influence after the break[LNB] 7 Henderson: Produced a wonderful nutmeg in the build-up to Bent's goal and passed well throughout[LNB] 6 Reid: Almost doubled Sunderland's lead with an excellent free-kick that hit the crossbar[LNB] 6 Jones: Won lots of headers in the first half, but couldn't quite direct them towards Bent[LNB] 6 Bent: Took his goal superbly, but wasted a couple of decent half-chances to double his side's lead[LNB] Subs: Murphy (for Jones, 85mins) Malbranque (for Bent, 90mins) (not used): Carson (gk), Anderson, Meyler, Healy, Noble.[LNB] PORTSMOUTH (4-5-1):[LNB] James 6; Ben Haim 5, Wilson 6, Kaboul 7, Hreidarsson 6; Yebda 4 (Webber 77mins), Brown 5 (Diop 83), O'HARA 7, Hughes 5, Dindane 5; Kanu 4 (Piquionne 62mins 5).[LNB] Subs (not used): Begovic (gk), Belladj, Finnan, Mokoena.[LNB] MAN OF THE MATCH[LNB] NYRON Nosworthy might not be the most natural of full-backs, but provided a flutter of excitement every time he was on the ball.[LNB]
