Match Report
22 points separated the sides: Sunderland 4th on 76, Portsmouth 16th on 54. Sunderland had been under-performing their position — 24th on five-round form against 4th in the table. Against a league average of 1.23 goals per team per game, Sunderland ran at 1.26 scored and 0.96 conceded, Portsmouth at 1.26 and 1.54.
15 previous meetings sit in the GioScore records — Sunderland 5, draws 4, Portsmouth 6, at 2.33 goals per meeting.
The venue was Stadium of Light in Sunderland, with room for 49,000 spectators. Sunderland led 1-0 at the break — the second half brought no more goals and it finished 1-0.
Key stats
Possession: Sunderland 60% · Portsmouth 40% · Total shots: 24-6 · On target: 8-1 · Corners: 7-3