Ross keeps believing

Posted Sunday, April 28, 2019 by PA

Jack Ross refused to give up on Sunderland’s automatic promotion hopes after a 1-1 draw with Portsmouth left them facing a likely Sky Bet League One play-off campaign.

The home side dominated for long spells in front of 41,129 at the Stadium of Light, but were thwarted twice by the woodwork and repeatedly by an inspired display from Pompey goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray.

Tom Flanagan’s opener for the hosts was cancelled out by Jamal Lowe’s strike – the latter followed by a five-minute stoppage after an away fan threw a smoke bomb into the Sunderland crowd below.

Sunderland must now win their trips to Fleetwood and Southend, and even then they would need Luton or Barnsley to lose on the final day and Portsmouth to drop points from their remaining games.

“I couldn’t have asked any more from my players in terms of the performance they gave,” said Ross.

“They came into the game under big pressure, both teams did, but to produce that level of performance in those circumstances: I’m proud of that.

“Effort and good performance doesn’t always guarantee that you get what you deserve from it, I thought we deserved to win the game.

“We still have the chance to achieve what we want automatically, albeit a long shot, but the only way that happens is if we win our game in hand on Tuesday.

“We want to continue the performance level and hopefully win the game and see where it takes us at the weekend.”

Ross believes another blood-and-thunder clash with Pompey – the two sides played out a thrilling 2-2 draw in last month’s Checkatrade Trophy final at Wembley before Portsmouth won on penalties – will stand both sides in good stead for the play-offs.

“They are very much games in isolation that you have to approach in that way and they have their own intensity and atmosphere around it,” Ross said.

“The two teams involved today, neither will want to be there (the play-offs), but they’ve offered a flavour for what it will be like because there’s an intensity on the pitch and an intensity in the atmosphere around it and that’s what they will be like as well.”

Lewis Morgan’s overhead kick was tipped onto the post by MacGillivray as the hosts started strongly before Flanagan headed in Aiden McGeady’s free-kick at the back post after nine minutes.

Pompey hit back midway through the first half as Lowe tapped in after Lee Brown headed Brett Pitman’s against the crossbar and Ronan Curtis had a goal disallowed after Sunderland goalkeeper Jon McLaughlin went down under pressure at a corner.

MacGillivray produced a tremendous stop to deny Charlie Wyke at point-blank range in first-half stoppage time.

Chances were few and far between after the break but MacGillivray produced another top save to deny Max Power before sub Will Grigg turned a cross against the post with five minutes remaining as the home side finished in the ascendancy.

Portsmouth’s automatic hopes are now out of their own hands, but if they win home games against Peterborough and Accrington they will need only one of Luton or Barnsley to drop points on the final day.

“I felt we dug in, I felt the keeper made two outstanding saves and was the busier keeper,” said Blues boss Kenny Jackett.

“In the second half going forward, we couldn’t find the passes to get ourselves up there. We didn’t get in and around their box to create chances.

“In normal circumstance that’s a very good point. We obviously want to win, as Sunderland did today, and chasing the top two.”