Sunderland's struggle to avoid relegation will go down to the wire after lax defending contributed to a 3-1 loss at Portsmouth's Fratton Park last night.<br /><br />
<table style="width: 76px; height: 37px" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="76" align="right" border="1">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><img alt="" src="/imagedata/2009/may/utaka.jpg" border="0" /></td></tr>
<tr>
<td>
<p align="center"><span style="font-size: 8pt">Portsmouth's John Utaka celebrates his goal.</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table>The Black Cats' needed all three points from this visit to the south coast but their Premier League fate will now be determined by Chelsea's visit next Sunday.<br /><br />Sunderland were left just two points clear of the drop zone. with a win against Chelsea seeing them safe while anything else and their future will be decided by results elsewhere.<br /><br />Ricky Sbragia's strugglers remain a point better off than Hull, who host Manchester United, and two ahead of local rivals Newcastle.<br /><br />Sbragia, reflecting on the second goal, told Setanta Sports: "We knew in the second half they'd push on to us and close us down. but we got off to a good start.<br />u00a0<br />Kenwyne scored and from then on we should have been a bit more confident and bossed the game.<br /><br />"We kept the lead for two minutes, and that's not acceptable. The second goal was a bad mistake by Anton. He switched off."

Ponting backs Symonds for Ashes selection

Sunderland's struggle to avoid relegation will go down to the wire after lax defending contributed to a 3-1 loss at Portsmouth's Fratton Park last night.

Portsmouth leave Sunderland on the brink of relegation

Trending Stories

Latest Photos

Latest Videos

Latest Web Stories

Mid-Day Fast

Home / Sports / Cricket / Article / Portsmouth leave Sunderland on the brink of relegation

Portsmouth leave Sunderland on the brink of relegation

Trending Stories

Latest Photos

Latest Videos

Latest Web Stories

Mid-Day Fast