Pompey scrape a point

You know that Avram grant bloke? You know, not our manager, our 'director of football' bloke who does all the manager stuff without being the 'manager'. Well I reckon he has a vital quality that has been missing since Droopy dog left for North London, that quality? Luck.
Pompey have played a lot better over the last 12 months and lost these games, in fact we have played a lot better and would of lost to Burnley, but all of the sudden we have found the knack of creating little, yet squirting home an equaliser with 10 seconds left, nice quality.

Grant rang a couple of changes for this crunch fixture, in came James between the sticks, Ben Haim went back to right back in place of Finnan who sat on the bench, and Smith gave way to Kanu who earned himself a start after last weeks cameo. More surprisingly was the sight of Richard Hughes in place of Buster Boateng who had a virus.

The first half was as bad as Pompey could of been, we had as much creativity as a 2 year old with a crayon, Sunderland were allowed to do all the running and James did well after only 18 mins to keep out Jones after he swapped passes with Bent, he smothered his shot well though.
Sunderland however were not to be denied, Henderson skinned Wilson on the the right flank and his cross found Reid who squared for Bent to smash home, 1-0 and the floodgates looked like breaking.

Pompey were being contained to the odd counter-break, but Kanu was having an erratic game for him, and most of the efforts were blasts from outside the area that threatened gorner flags rather than Fulop.

The second half followed the same script as the first, Sunderland pressed, Pompey sat, although this half the defence held firmer and contained the red and white wave, Wilson mad a good block on Bent after only 2 mins of the half, and Pompey were starting to edge slightly further upfield themselves.
O'Hara had a couple of free-kicks from distance, but Fulop could save easily, and we started to force a few corners.

Kanu gave way after the hour and on came Piquionne to try and stretch a Mackem defence with pace.
Pompey's defence was strating to dominate the home side, and this was reflected in the crowd, discerning noises showing their frustration at the lack of a second goal.

Time was ticking away and Pompey were strting to enjoy the possesion as Sunderland sat back to defend their slender lead. Kaboul nearly found the opening, but Turner blocked his shot and it flew over.
The injury time board was up and Pompey had 4 extra minutes to scrape an unlikely equaliser, but Lady Luck got out her satnav and found Pompey once more, a corner found Piq, his effort was blocked, and then Kaboul stuck out an oak tree leg to poke home, a point was saved and both the away crowd went wild!

But Pompey like a bit of sweet 'n' sour, off came Kaboul's shirt, and he joined it, red carded as it was a second booking.

Still a point is a point, and with other results going against us it was a biggie.

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