Source: Daily_Mail
Portsmouth 3 Sunderland 1: Sbragia sweating as Sunderland feel the heat
Ricky Sbragia's black nylon tracksuit will feel even tighter than it looks as he heads for his appointment with the nerve shredder.
The Sunderland manager had hoped to avoid a major role in the final day drama but this defeat condemns him to a crazy Sunday afternoon, biting nails and watching clocks with Alan Shearer, Gareth Southgate and Phil Brown.
Sunderland must beat Chelsea to be certain of staying up but the suicidal nature of their defending means it promises to be uncomfortable viewing for the manager as he keeps tabs on the progress of Hull and Newcastle, the two teams who can still catch them.
'It's going to be a difficult up-and-down Sunday but we've just got to stick together,' said Sbragia after watching his team take the lead through Kenwyne Jones and then concede an equaliser almost before the striker had completed his sequence of celebratory back-flips.
John Utaka's equaliser was laced with controversy. Referee Alan Wiley appeared to blow the whistle, apparently for a penalty, a split second before Utaka had released his shot. But then Wiley allowed play to go on and gave the goal.
'There will be no complaints from me,' said Sbragia. 'He's given it and it's a goal. Whether it's blown too early is up to the referee but I don't have a problem with it. I didn't even realise. They would have scored the penalty, knowing our luck.'
Phil Bardsley's own goal that capped a comedy of Sunderland errors put Pompey ahead and Armand Traore grabbed the third late in the game as Sunderland threw men forward in search of an equaliser.
Sbragia added: 'We did well first half and created a few chances but it was the same old story. The first goal was a bit lucky but the second was bad defending and that's what killed us off. I thought we had a chance of getting something here.'
Sunderland had dominated the first half after surviving an early scare when a Peter Crouch header hit the inside of the post and spun along the goal line. Anton Ferdinand scrambled it clear and the visitors settled into their rhythm as Pompey, already safe from relegation, looked like a team preparing to pack for their holidays.
Steed Malbranque sliced a volley off target before Pompey goalkeeper Asmir Begovic was forced to make two smart saves in a matter of seconds, first from Dean Whitehead's deflected effort and then from Malbranque again.
Begovic was making his debut in place of David James who has a neck problem which will require surgery and rule him out of England's end-of-season World Cup qualifiers.
Kieran Richardson then linked up from central midfield with Jones, firing a pass into his feet and collecting a back-heeled return, but he was unable to control his shot under pressure from Sol Campbell and it soared over.
Jones beat Begovic four minutes before half time, climbing high above Campbell and Sylvain Distin to glance Malbranque's cross towards goal but the ball struck the post and rolled across the face of goal before it was hoisted to safety.
Pompey boss Paul Hart made two changes at the break which injected new impetus into his side and invigorated the game.
On came Traore and Younes Kaboul and both made a positive impact, lifting the tempo. Traore darted down the left flank and crossed for Crouch but his header flew over.
Sunderland were pressed back and forced to defend a succession of corners but sprang out of defence to take the lead in the 59th minute.
Bardsley sprinted down the right and produced a wonderful centre which Jones tucked away at the far post.
The scores were level again within a minute when Utaka latched on to a loose header in defence from Grant Leadbitter and smashed it low past Marton Fulop.
Utaka ripped off his shirt in celebration but somehow got away without a booking from Wiley and was heavily involved in Portsmouth's second.
A long kick from Begovic was completely miscued by Ferdinand and Utaka pounced, collecting the ball and skipping around the goalkeeper. The Nigerian would have bundled it into the empty net but full back Bardsley did the job for him, sliding back to score an own goal.
'The second goal killed us,' said Sbragia. 'Anton should just put his foot through it. He's better than than.'
Bardsley, Jones and substitute Djibril Cisse all went close for Sunderland before Utaka slipped a pass to Traore on the left and he drove in the third.
'We believe we will stay up,' said Sbragia. 'The other teams have hard games as well. We have to be stronger than we were today when we were under the cosh. We know it's going to be difficult but we could beat Chelsea. They might have their minds on the FA Cup final.'
Failing that, and a better bet, might be to hope like hell that Hull and Newcastle don't win.