Football story by sport.co.uk, Tue, 19 May 2009 08:26:47 GMT



Sunderland will go into the last day of the season in danger of relegation after shooting themselves in the foot at Portsmouth, where they led for just over a minute before basic errors gave Portsmouth 3-1 victory. John Utaka scored and forced an own goal from Phil Bardsley before Armand Traore confirmed victory with a late goal. Victory for Sunderland would have guaranteed their Premiership survival, but now they are one of four teams who can join West Brom in being relegated on the final day of the season. If they fail to beat Chelsea at home on Sunday, and both Newcastle and Hull win against Aston Villa and West Ham respectively, Ricky Sbragia's side will be back in the Championship. Even Middlesbrough can escape if they beat West Ham and both Newcastle and Hull lose, although the latter have a superior goal difference to Boro.



Fratton Park hosted a classic game of two halves. The first half was tepid, as befitted two sides who had failed to score a Premiership goal for a month, but the second half was packed with action.



Portsmouth manager Paul Hart sprang a surprise by playing Asmir Begovic in goal, the Canadian making his full debut because England keeper David James was injured in training at the weekend.



Peter Crouch came closest to opening the scoring within five minutes of the start when he had two headers on goal. His first, from Glen Johnson's cross, was blocked and the Portsmouth striker's follow-up header rebounded off the inside post and was cleared by Anton Ferdinand.



Five minutes before half-time, Kenwyne Jones was just as unlucky, heading a Steed Malbranque cross towards goal but seeing the ball bounce off the inside of the far post and roll back across goal with no Sunderland player able to stab it over the line.



But the deadlock was finally broken in the 58th minute. Sunderland centre-half Calum Davenport led a break from defence and went charging down the right before delivering a cross deep towards the far post. Jones still had to finish off the move as he ran in on goal, and struck it sweetly with the outside of his right boot.



Sunderland's lead barely lasted a minute as Pompey struck back on the hour. Crouch's header was knocked back towards his own goal by Grant Leadbitter, where John Utaka held off Davenport to shoot low past Marton Fulop. Confusion reigned as referee Alan Wiley appeared to blow his whistle for an infringement before Utaka shot, but once the ball crossed the line he allowed the goal to stand.



But a howler by Ferdinand in the 67th minute, as he failed to control a long punt downfield from Begovic, let in Utaka again. The Portsmouth midfielder took the ball round Fulop before Phil Bardsley slid it into his own net as he tried to clear.



Jones had two great chances to equalize first with a volley straight at Begovic, and then a close range header in to the keeper's arms in the 87th minute. Within a minute Sunderland were punished as substitute Armand Traore killed them off with Portsmouth's third goal, drilled in to the far post with his left foot.



It means Sunderland face a nervous time on Sunday, and if results go against them they will be relegated.