A string of defensive errors meant Sunderland managed to blow a one goal lead with half an hour to spare, meaning our Premier League future will be decided in the end of season finale.

Early mornings aren’t really my thing, but knowing you’ve got a seven hour coach journey in front of you with the strong possibility of watching 4-5-1 made this one even worse.

The shit hole that is Portsmouth, was even less attractive from close up but the Pompey fans were all pretty sound and full of good lucks for us for the rest of the season. Probably because they’re already safe, the jammy bastards.

The game started ok with not a lot happening early on, we set up with exactly the same side as last week at Bolton, thrilling.

Credit to our fans first half, apart from the two lads who decided to have hand bags over whether or not we should be standing or sitting, maybe your efforts could be directed elsewhere?

The players worked hard all over the pitch, we looked tight, bar Peter Crouch hitting the base of the post. Kenwyne Jones did the same for us, and we all went into half time happy and hopeful.

HT: 0-0.

The second half started well for Pompey, they battered us with corners, but Anton Ferdinand and Co dealt with them well enough. Then on the hour mark Callum Davenport won the ball and broke down the wing, much more comprehensively than any of our wingers have done all season and whipped the ball in for Jones to finish. Cue wild celebrations and damaged shins.

By the time I’d clambered back into my row, it was 1-1. It seems that the ‘in’ thing to do these days is score, switch off and give up. Exactly what we went and did courtesy of a Grant Leadbitter back pass.

Before we knew it, John Utaka was through a second time, courtesy this time of an Anton air kick, and Phil Bardsley crashed the ball home with a last ditch tackle that went wrong. Armand Traore finished us off moments after Jones missed a spectacular chance to equalise and as usual we managed to throw away a game we should have won.

Special note for Ricky Sbragia, who took ages to get another striker onto the pitch, your urgency definitely got through to the players. Cheers.

Pompey finished the game off in style by introducing the all amazing Linvoy Primus and generally taking the piss out of us, credit to their fans for joining in with our Anti Shearer Craic.

Unfortunately, and very worryingly, our fate will be decided against Guus Hiddink’s Chelsea on the final day of the season. Did we really expect anything less?

Full Time Score: 3-1

ALS Man of the Match: Callum Davenport

Richard Horsfall

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