PORTSMOUTH ......................................................... 3 Loovens sees red as Black Cats are sunk by Pompey
TEN-MAN Sunderland blew their chance to close the gap on leaders Portsmouth as they were swept away on the South Coast.
The Black Cats had to play for virtually half the match shorthanded after Glenn Loovens was sent off for bringing down Oli Hawkins and denying a clear goalscoring opportunity inside the penalty area, with Pompey skipper Gareth Evans converting from the spot.
And that goal was the start of a madcap 15 minutes which saw three more goals.
Ronan Curtis gave his side a twogoal cushion, only for Luke O’nien to halve the deficit, before Ben Thompson’s strike killed the game.
This was Sunderland’s first league defeat since mid-september, ending their 12-match unbeaten run.
It means they will sit third in the table at Christmas, eight points behind Pompey and, four behind second-placed Luton Town, although they still have two games in hand of both those clubs.
Jack Ross made three changes to the side that started the win against Bristol Rovers last weekend, with Duncan Watmore making his first league start in 13 months.
Watmore led the line in preference to Josh Maja, who dropped to the bench.
The other changes saw O’nien come into the side at right-back in place of Adam Matthews, who made the trip to the South Coast but was not included on the teamsheet.
And Reece James returned at leftback in place of Bryan Oviedo.
Portsmouth boss Kenny Jackett kept faith with the same side that began last Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Barnsley.
The first half was a full-blooded and at times feisty affair, but with little end product to show for all the effort put in.
A 25-yard shot from Luke O’nien would have tested Craig Macgillivray but instead Nathan Thompson’s head took the full force, briefly flooring the defender.
Sunderland fans called on referee Peter Bankes to produce a red card midway through the half when Lee Brown appeared to tread on George Honeyman after the latter had been fouled, but the official decided a warning for Brown and Lee Cattermole - who became involved in the aftermath - was all that was needed.
Pompey frontman Oli Hawkins did go in the book just before the half-hour after he clattered Loovens late after the Dutchman had cleared the ball.
Watmore burst into the penalty area on the right and got to the byline but was challenged as he tried to pick out Max Power at the far post, with the ball deflecting off a defender and falling kindly for the keeper.
The best chance of the half came just before the break and again Watmore was the architect, winning the ball from Nathan Thompson and teeing up Lynden Gooch who got a shot away which was blocked by Macgillivray.
If the first half lacked goalmouth action, all that changed in the second half.
First came Evans’ penalty in the 48th minute after Loovens’ foul on Hawkins when the striker had got the wrong side of him and was bearing down on goal.
Just five minutes later, Curtis doubled his side’s lead after he won the