JER WHAT WE NEED!
Defoe deal could seal promotion
LEE JOHNSON insisted Sunderland DO want to sign Jermain Defoe – as they grabbed their first win of the year.
Elliot Embleton sealed victory to steady a wobble in results and keep the pressure on for automatic promotion.
The Black Cats have a solid look, and fought hard to keep a clean sheet in a low-quality game lit up by new defender Danny Batth.
The remarkable crowd of 32,220 fans at the Stadium of Light are sensing a Wearside revival this season, their fourth in League One.
Sunderland are in the market for reinforcements and having earlier this week appeared to reject the chance to sign former striker Defoe (inset), boss Johnson said: “We are working hard to bring Jermain in. We have had good conversations.”
Defoe is available on a free after leaving Rangers and
Johnson (above, right) added: “It has to be right. Don’t confuse being thorough with no interest.
“I have respect for him, and what he can bring. Short term or long term it is about bringing in someone of that ilk.”
Embleton hit the only goal after some tenacious hassling of the
Pompey defenders by Leon Dajaku.
He bustled Hayden Carter into making a mistake and Ross Stewart burst forward with the loose ball and slipped Embleton into the left channel for him to slot home his fourth goal of the season.
The 22-year-old local lad had earlier served notice of his threat when he intercepted a Ronan Curtis pass but keeper Gavin three points. We pressed Bazunu saved well. better, hustled, caught them
The home defence had a on the ball and earned a goal solid look to it with Batth, a at a good time. new signing from Stoke, “We have to win all types having an excellent debut. of games.
He made 11 “Danny gave us that successful dominant first-ball winner headers, five in defence. He was brilliant. clearances, “He has physicality and is three interceptions dominant.” and a Portsmouth are without a tackle contributing win in four league games to and boss Danny Cowley Sunderland’s first admitted: “We didn’t take win for four games. our chances. We played too Johnson said: “It was very direct. hard-earned. We were “We are a nearly team at extremely solid. the moment. We will get
“It wasn’t a classic, but the criticised because we have most important thing was not scored again.”
SUNDERLAND: Hoffmann 7; Flanagan 7, Batth 7, Doyle 7; Gooch 6, Evans 6, Neil 7, Cirkin 6; Embleton 7 (Winchester 83), Dajaku 7 (O’brien 88); Stewart 7.
Patterson, Xhemajli, Diamond, T Hume, Kimpioka.
Bazunu 7; Carter 6, Raggett 6, Robertson 6 (Jacobs 78), Romeo 5; Morrell 6, Thompson 5 (Williams 70); Hackett 6, Harness 5, Curtis 5 (Hirst 70); Walker 5.
Stewart, Brown, Freeman, Ogilvie .
MAN OF THE MATCH: Elliot Embleton. Great finish was the moment of quality in low quality game.
REFEREE: David Rock 7.