Report by Ben Davis

The optimism built up after the win over Bury was squashed for Pompey as they were truly outclassed by Sunderland. Overall it was a pretty pathetic performance and it was no surprise that Terry Fenwick was the man to take the flak as he endured endless abuse during the second half.
Pompey could well have postponed this game due to international call ups but Fenwick believed the game should go ahead so that the club doesn't get a backlog of fixtures. Sammy Igoe then replaced Alan McLoughlin who was helping Ireland get to France next year. Sunderland's giant striker Niall Quinn started for the first time after a two month knee injury and new signing Nicky Summerbee was on the bench.
In the first minute a poor kick out by Knight let in Quinn but Whitbread came to the rescue with a well time tackle. At the other end Pethick's cross into the area worked it's way to Aloisi who was unmarked and his snap shot went wide.
The Aussie striker though was celebrating in the 7th minute as he put Pompey ahead. Pethick did well to beat Williams down the right and put in a low centre from the by-line which Aloisi crashed into the roof of the net. Sunderland though responded with Pompey's defence not looking at ease with the presence of Quinn.
Thomson had to clear a Quinn header off the line and Knight had to brilliantly flick over Smith's shot as Pompey struggled to clear the danger. However, from the resulting corner the visitors were level in the 10th minute. Smith took it and Quinn rose highest at the near post and headed it down and past Knight.
The early momentum from Pompey had gone as their defence continued to look very shaky. Four minutes after Quinn had equalised Sunderland went in front to the delight over their travelling army. Smith got Johnston into the box as he lost his marker and he pulled it back for Clark to evade two defenders and drill it past Knight.
It was so nearly three when the highly rated Gray surged down the left, beating Pethick, and whipping in a cross which Phillips met sending a header inches past the post. The north-east side were now flying and it was only a matter of time before the third did come. Rae almost got it when his fine 25-yard effort was clawed around the post by Knight. The pressure was relentless with Phillips then turning Perrett in the area and dragging a good chance wide to the relief of the fans behind the goal in the Fratton End.
Perrett managed to scramble away what looked a certain tap in for Phillips after Smith's low cross before Sunderland did get their deserved third goal. Smith was brought down by Pethick just outside the area with Durnin receiving a yellow card for his protests. Johnston took an age over deciding what to do but eventually he clipped a shot over the wall and into the near corner beyond Knight's desperate dive.
Sunderland had chances to make it four or even five before the break with the defence managing to survive but every one in the ground knew the game was virtually over.
The industrious Smith came off at the start of the half with Summerbee coming on for his debut. It seemed immediately that the visitors had relaxed a little when Holloway headed just over his own cross bar with no Pompey player behind him. Five minutes after the restart Quinn had the ball in the net but that was rubbed out for offside.
Foster then came on for Perrett as Turner moved up front as a forward. Minutes later Aloisi did well to turn his marker in the area and fire a shot just wide of Perez's goal. Pompey though never looked like scoring and it was Sunderland in fairness looked the more threatening.
After 65 minutes Sunderland did make it four and it signalled the end of many Pompey fans afternoon as they left the ground. Johnston broke away down the left and his low cross rebounded out to Summerbee to thrash home from 12-yards. It was now a case of how many Sunderland would end up with.
Phillips thought he must score his deserved goal when he met a right hand cross in the area. Knight did well to parry that and did even better to block the second attempt from the striker who wasn't having one of his more successful days. Minutes later Phillips was in again and again he failed to score pulling a shot wide of the far post.
Towards the end Turner got down the left and his cross was met by Durnin who powered a header just wide. The striker thought he had got a consolation goal not long after but his clipped shot hit the underside of the cross bar. Enes, who had come on as sub for the disappointing Igoe, crashed in the rebound which Perez brilliantly flicked over.
The fans discontent had seen songs of 'We hate Fenwick more than Scum' rise from the stands and many will be wondering how long the manger has left before he gets the sack. With no game next Saturday Pompey could well find themselves bottom of the league.