Sunderland’s struggle to avoid relegation will go down to the wire after lax defending contributed to a 3-1 loss at Portsmouth’s Fratton Park on Monday.
The Black Cats needed all three points from the game for safety, but their Premier League fate will now be determined by Chelsea’s visit on Sunday.
Sunderland were left just two points clear of the drop zone, with a win against Chelsea necessary or their future will be decided by results elsewhere.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Ricky Sbragia’s strugglers remain a point better off than Hull, who host Manchester United, and two ahead of local rivals Newcastle.
Both sides hit the post in a goalless and largely lifeless first half.
Sunderland were lucky to escape when the woodwork diverted Peter Crouch’s close range header in the fourth minute, while the visitors were groaning when Kenwyne Jones’ header hit Asmir Begovic’s right-hand post approaching the break.
Then after almost 12-and-a-half hours without either side scoring a goal, first Sunderland and then Portsmouth put an end to that miserable statistic.
Jones had Sunderland fans dreaming of another season in the Premier League when he half-volleyed Calum Davenport’s cross from the right past Asmir Begovic in the 58th minute.
But Portsmouth were back on level terms seconds later when Nigerian John Utaka held off a Black Cats defender to rifle past Marton Fulop, although it was not without controversy as the referee blew his whistle for a penalty before the ball crossed the line.
Poor defending by Anton Ferdinand, who failed to secure Begovic’s long punt down field, left Utaka in a one-on-one with Fulop with Phil Bardsley’s attempt to prevent the inevitable resulting in an own goal.
With 20 minutes on the clock Begovic denied Grant Leadbitter’s low 30 yard drive and the Canadian keeper did well shortly after to keep out Jones’ determined volley.
Sunderland manager Ricky Sbragia introduced Djibril Cisse for Teemu Tainio in a last ditch bid to find the all important equalizer, the Frenchman quickly followed on the pitch by Daryl Murphy for Leadbitter.
But Portsmouth killed off the game and possibly Sunderland’s tenure in the Premier League when on-loan Armand Traore drilled a shot into Fulop’s far corner.
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