NATHAN: WEMBLEY WAS A CAREER LOW.. NOW IT COULD PUT ME ON AN ALL-TIME HIGH

PORTSMOUTH defender Nathan Thompson wants to turn play-off tears to cheers by firing the south coast side into the Championship.

Thompson was left crying in the Wembley dressing room after being forced off with a hamstring injury five minutes into Swindon’s League One final defeat by Preston in 2015 (left). The right-back banished some of the pain by leading Pompey to victory over Sunderland in the Checkatrade Trophy final and the sides meet again today.

Thompson said: “That was the lowest point of my career. I remember coming into the dressing room and crying.

“I remember seeing Preston celebrating and it was a bitter pill to swallow. Thankfully I was able to put

that nightmare to bed in the Checkatrade and I am looking forward to going back.”

Thompson says all the pressure is on Sunderland, saying: “They have played us three times now and not beaten us. You’d like to think we will have a little psychological edge on them.”

Sunderland boss Jack Ross reckons he would be “certified” if he took the criticism heaped on Sunderland to heart. The Scot (right) says he is battling a decades-old “culture of glorious failure” on Wearside.

Sunderland owner Stewart Donald has taken a break from twitter after heated debates over why the club with the highest wage-bill in the league failed to storm the division.

Ross has also been questioned, but has urged his stars to blow away any negativity at the Stadium of Light.

Ross said: “If I got caught up in that, it would render me certified within a short period of time. Criticism comes with defeats. Of five defeats, two came in the last few games. That has heightened it at a time when you need to have positivity. In a sporting sense, the fans are used to glorious failure.”