Portsmouth 3 Sunderland 1

A CONTROVERSIAL goal and sloppy defending saw Sunderland throw away a second half lead that ensured they go into the final day of the season still under threat of relegation.

The club's majority shareholder Ellis Short was at Fratton Park tonight and the Dallas-based businessman can hardly have been impressed by Sunderland's defensive shortcomings.

Three Portsmouth goals cancelled out Kenwyne Jones' opener, meaning all three North-East clubs face the possibility of relegation from the Premier League on the final day of the season this Sunday.

And with goal difference a potential factor in determining which teams will avoid the drop, Ricky Sbragia will have been angered by the defensive shortcomings that saw his side concede a trio of second half strikes.

The first Pompey goal came after referee Alan Wiley whistled for an infringement.

As the Sunderland defenders froze, John Utaka fired home but Wiley waved away the visitors' protests.

However, Sunderland can have few other complaints as a lack of concentration allowed Paul Hart's side to expose weaknesses in the rearguard on two more occasions.

Unlike his predecessor Roy Keane, Sbragia has seldom been inclined to make shock team selections so it was no surprise to see the Scot stay loyal to the same players and the 4-2-3-1 formation that secured a useful draw at the Reebok Stadium nine days ago.

The criticism of Sbragia this season is that his conservative instincts have turned the Black Cats into an increasingly ponderous and predictable outfit.

At Fratton Park tonight, Jones again operated as lone striker; meaning the onus was on Kieran Richardson to make the runs from midfield to unsettle Pompey's veteran back four.

On the rare occasions when the pair linked, Richardson repeatedly failed to show composure in front of goal, like he did repeatedly at Bolton. He should have given Sunderland the lead just after the half hour mark, but as at the Reebok, the former Manchester United midfielder blasted his shot over the bar when a cool head was needed.

Jones almost gave his side a half-time advantage but his excellent flicked header from Steed Malbranque's teasing centre evaded the keeper and bounced off the upright to safety.

After recovering from the severe knee injury sustained last summer Jones has improved on last season's goal tally but his all-round game has stalled. Tottenham continue to retain an interest in the 23-year-old and Harry Redknapp again had the striker watched last night. Jones' cool finish to hand Sunderland a second half lead was ample reward for his tireless performance in attack.

The visitors had almost conceded after only three minutes but a combination of Marton Fulop, Anton Ferdinand and the goalpost managed to thwart a couple of close range Peter Crouch headers.

Sbragia's side, though, soon found their feet. Grant Leadbitter teed up skipper Dean Whitehead who cannoned a shot that Asmir Begovic saved with feet.

The ball deflected to Richardson who played an unselfish pass to Malbranque but he spurned the chance sending a tame effort the keeper smothered easily. Results at the weekend ensured that Premier League football will grace Fratton Park next season and the impressive Pompey coaching team of Paul Hart and Brian Kidd are expected to continue in charge.

Hart took the opportunity to hand some of his fringe players an end of season run out with England goalkeeper David James rested at the expense of Begovic.

Portsmouth had a great shout for a penalty on 18 minutes after Ferdinand clearly shoved Crouch in the back but referee Wiley dismissed the homes side's claims.

After a flat first half the game exploded in to life with three goals in a frantic ten minute spell.

Calum Davenport dispossessed Crouch on the left, tore down the right wing like a true wide man, and sent a superbly flighted ball that Jones flicked home without having to break his stride.

The celebrations of the away contingent were silenced within a minute when slack defending allowed Pompey to level and then take the lead.

First a Crouch header struck Leadbitter in the face, falling kindly to John Utaka who held off Davenport to crash a shot past Fulop.

And then from a Begovic punt upfield, Ferdinand's horribly mistimed challenge on the egde of his own area allowed Utaka to slot the ball around Fulop and Phil Bardsley could only slide the ball into his own net.

Sunderland had chances to hit back with Jones' close range volley the Black Cats best effort.

But as they pushed forward gaps began to appear in their already shaky defence and Armand Traore's smart low shot ended any chances of a comeback.

Defeat tonight ensured that Sunderland supporters will endure sleepless nights in the run up to Sunday's final day showdown.

**Sunderland's new home kit for the 2009-10 season is launched on Wednesday at the Stadium of Light store or Sainsburys, Washington, from 6pm. It can also be ordered online at www.safc.com, or phoning 0871 911 1973.

Matchfacts

Goals: Jones (58mins, 1-0); Utaka, (60mins 1-1); Bardsley og, (68mins, 2- 1); Traore, (88mins, 3-1) Booking: Utaka )60mins, unsporting behaviour).

Referee: Alan Wiley, Burntwood.

Attendance: 20,398.

SUNDERLAND: (4-2-3-1): Fulop 5; Bardsley 5, DAVENPORT 7, Ferdinand 4, Collins 6; Malbranque 6 (Edwards 53mins,5) ,Tainio 6 (Cisse 80mins),Whitehead 6, Leadbitter 6 (Murphy 85mins), Richardson 5; Jones 7. Subs (not used): Colgan, McShane, Reid, Healy, Cisse

PORTSMOUTH (4-4-2): Begovic 7; Johnson 6, Distin 7,Campbell 6, Hreidarsson 7; UTAKA 7, Mullins 6, Davis 5, Hughes 5 (Traore 45mins, 7); Crouch 6 (Primus 87), Kanu 5 (Kaboul 45mins, 6) Subs (not used): Ashdown, Basinas, Nugent, Belhadj

MAN OF THE MATCH

CALUM Davenport – boosted his chances of earning a permanent move with an impressive performance.