Elliot makes difference as Cats scrape vital victory
Sunderland got their League One campaign back on track with a narrow and hardfought victory over Portsmouth.
Lee Johnson’s side had laboured through a nervy start to the game, but took the lead through Elliot Embleton’s excellent close-range finish, a reflection of the way their pressing began to pay off as the first-half developed.
Although they struggled to carve out significant chances in the second half, they were much the better side, Danny Cowley’s team losing the spark from the early stages of the game and unable to forge any notable save from Thorben Hoffmann in the Sunderland goal.
As well as taking three crucial points, the Stadium of Light support will have been encouraged by a superb debut from Danny Batth, who produced a dominant display in the heart of defence.
While the arrival and availability of Batth had been a significant boost for the Black Cats, there were other issues to contend with.
Bailey Wright and Alex Pritchard both missed out due to injury, leading Johnson to match up Portsmouth’s five-man defence.
Patrick Roberts was not deemed fit enough to take a place in the matchday squad, while Denver Hume, an ongoing transfer target for Cowley, was absent from the 18.
Sunderland looked out of kilter and confidence from the off, Portsmouth dominating territory and forging the better of the chances.
Ronan Curtis blazed over from the edge of the area, before Marcus Harness missed from an even more promising position.
The hosts were adamant play should have been stopped for a foul on Hoffmann as he looked to distribute the ball.
However, it was a passage
of play that reflected a lacklustre and sloppy start.
A flurry of set pieces caused more problems, Lynden Gooch making a strong clearance from just in front of the line to keep his side level.
The hosts were presented with an unexpected opportunity when they were finally able to apply some pressure on the ball in the opposition half, Curtis forced into a soft giveaway under pressure from Leon Dajaku.
Embleton burst through on goal and shot, Gavin Bazunu making a strong save to palm the ball away.
It was Portsmouth who continued to do most of the running, though, with Millwall
loanee Mahlon Romeo missing a good opportunity at the back post before another last-ditch block prevented Curtis when a set piece dropped for him kindly.
Thirty minutes in and the Stadium of Light was understandably concerned by what they were seeing.
Slowly but surely, they were encouraged by signs of life.
Gooch whipped a tremendous ball to the back post that just evaded Dajaku, Johnson’s side slowly but surely beginning to turn the tide.
The lively Dajaku then pressed well to rob Sean Raggett as Portsmouth tried to play out from the back.
However, when he arguably
should have squared the ball for Ross Stewart, he opted instead to go for goal, the ball drifting wide of the back post.
The German’s persistence would be rewarded five minutes later.
This time it would be Hayden Carter he robbed, Embleton live to the threat and quickly stepping onto the ball.
A smart one-two with Stewart followed, and from there the youngster made no mistake as he fired a firsttime effort across Bazunu.
It had been hard-earned on an again very poor Stadium of Light surface, but the hosts had a lead at the break and their start to the second half was encouraging.
Though unable to test Bazunu, a drive from the edge of the area from Evans flashed just wide of the far post and was a fair reflection of a bright start to the half.
More good play from Dajaku and Embleton created a half chance for Neil on the edge of the area, but he was always stretching to make the shot and could only fire wide of Bazunu’s far post.
Portsmouth were struggling to make any significant inroads into an increasingly comfortable Sunderland backline. However, the narrow scoreline meant it was still too close to call as the game headed into the final quarter.
It had been an insipid second half from the visitors and one that was rather summed up by the chants of ‘we’ve had a shot’ from the away end, as Hoffmann was finally forced into a comfortable save with just under 10 minutes left.
Sunderland’s attacking threat had waned though and they were slowly beginning to be penned it to their own half, meaning a nervy finish looked inevitable.
A soft corner gifted up by the Black Cats almost proved costly, as George Hirst towered above his marker.
Fortunately for the hosts, he could only head over and it would prove to be the last significant action as the home side saw out five minutes’ stoppage time with ease.