Johnson so delighted with side’s focus

SUNDERLAND showed a ‘steely focus,” according to boss Lee Johnson, as they beat rivals Portsmouth 2-0 to edge a step closer to promotion.

Charlie Wyke notched his 26th goal of the season to set the Wearsiders on their way in the first half at Fratton Park on Tuesday night, on-loan Rangers winger Jordan Jones adding the second just before the hour.

Just as impressive as the result was the control the Black Cats showed, keeping another clean sheet – their fifth in six games – and managing to deny Pompey even a shot on target throughout the 90 minutes.

Johnson said: “We had a steely focus about us. I noticed that right from the hotel.

“I was really happy with that. It gave me a lot of satisfaction. I thought we were so professional after we scored our first goal.

“We made minimal mistakes defensively and we had a lot of interaction and interplay going forward. We were a difficult side to play against.

“Portsmouth tried to bully us, I thought. They wanted to get the ball in to their two big lads but our back two, and later back three, coped with that really well and limited them to not a lot.

“Against a good side like Portsmouth, I think that shows we are improving and progressing as we want to.”

It was Sunderland’s sixth win in seven undefeated league games and moved them to within two points of the automatic promotion places.

However, with 13 games remaining, Johnson is refusing to get carried away.

He added: “I have said I think the bigger clubs in the division will come through and I think that is showing now.

“A lot of the bigger clubs are starting to make inroads in that top six and towards the top two, including us.

“We just have to keep making sure our performances are good and we keep building.

“We have to be relentless in our attitude to win football matches.

“We are still the challengers. What do you fight harder as, the challenger or the champion?

“If you start looking at the outcome you can fall down.

“Our job internally is to make sure we keep our eye on the ball.

“The boys have good spirit at the moment and games like Tuesday’s go a long way to helping build that spirit and belief.

“You want to ride that feeling if possible but you always have to guard against complacency.”