Sunderland 1 Portsmouth 1

Dec 13 2009 by James Hunter, Sunday Sun

Sunderland, however, felt they had had their pockets picked.

They were in total control of the game throughout, but their downfall proved to be their inability to score a second goal to kill Pompey off.

And as the game wore on, the nerves started to show. Panicked clearances handed possession back to Portsmouth time and again, and finally the Premier League’s basement side managed to scramble an equaliser.

No wonder Steve Bruce looked dejected when the final whistle went seconds later.

It had all started so promisingly for the Black Cats.

Bruce had made four changes to the side that lost at Fulham last weekend, with Michael Turner the only survivor of the back four that started at Craven Cottage.

Full-backs Phil Bardsley and Kieran Richardson both missed out through suspension and were replaced by Nyron Nosworthy and George McCartney, while in central defence Paulo Da Silva came in for ankle injury victim Anton Ferdinand.

The other change saw Fraizer Campbell preferred to Steed Malbranque on the right side of midfield.