Sunderland vs Portsmouth. Sky Bet League One Play-Offs Semi-Final.
Stadium of LightAttendance26,610.
Watch Sunderland vs Portsmouth live on Sky Sports Football from 7.15pm on Saturday; Kick-off is at 7.30pm
Saturday 11 May 2019 20:00, UK
Sunderland host Portsmouth on Saturday evening in their Sky Bet League One semi-final play-off first leg, with both sides boasting a wealth of knowledge about one another.
Not only is this re-run of March's Checkatrade Trophy final, which Pompey lifted after a penalty shootout win at Wembley, this will be the fourth time the two sides have met this season, yet both will feel aggrieved this tie is taking place in the semi-finals and not the showpiece final at the national stadium.
Portsmouth will, no doubt, feel they should have walked away with the title, having led for almost half the season, while for the Black Cats this campaign has been one in which they've overachieved, off the back of successive relegations.
It took until the final two games of the season for Jack Ross' side to suffer back-to-back defeats, but having won just one of their last seven, their revival must come imminently; the fact they haven't beaten Saturday's opponents since January 2008, however, may play right into the visitors hands.
Sunderland boss Jack Ross will have a trio of key men back at his disposal for Saturday evening's League One play-off semi-final, first-leg clash with Portsmouth. Winger Aiden McGeady missed the back-to-back defeats by Fleetwood and Southend as he rested the foot injury with which he had been playing after pain-killing injections, but is available once again.
Midfielders Lee Cattermole (minor knock) and George Honeyman (knee) will also return to contention after sitting out the trip to Southend. Striker Duncan Watmore, who has been sidelined since the beginning of March with an ankle ligament injury, is back in training, but may have to wait until Thursday's second leg for his return.
Pompey boss Kenny Jackett will welcome back a rejuvenated Jamal Lowe for the fourth clash between the two clubs this season. Leading scorer Lowe was rested for last Saturday's 1-1 home draw with Accrington after his manager sensed fatigue in the wake of his 53rd appearance of the season against Peterborough on April 30.
Jackett otherwise has a near-full squad from which to select with only long-term absentee Jack Whatmough and Dion Donohue unavailable. Portsmouth have enjoyed the better of their head-to-heads with Sunderland to date, taking four points in the league and beating the Black Cats on penalties in the Checkatrade Trophy final at Wembley.
Sunderland boss Jack Ross: "We were really poor at Southend - first half in particular - however we haven't performed poorly (recently) with the exception of the latter part of the Fleetwood game.
"It was a reality check for some of us, individually and as a team, and a reminder of the levels we need to be at. We haven't dipped below them all that often this season but today we were well below them and we were beaten by a hungrier team.
"We have not gone into the play-offs on the back of a positive feeling because our performance at Southend was a long way short. It was a reality check for some of us, individually and as a team, and a reminder of the levels we need to be at.
"You are always judged on the end result, and in the last few games we have either drawn them or lost them but the performance has been ok so that has been a bit more positive, but when the two go hand-in-hand (poor performance and poor result) I can be a lot more critical."
Portsmouth boss Kenny Jackett: "It's a chance to get into the Championship - and that's a big prize for whoever emerges successful from the four sides. We're pleased to be in there with a shot and every player here knows we have to attack what's ahead of us.
"We pushed the top two, but the reality is we hadn't been in those spaces for a few months - we were always chasing Luton and Barnsley in the latter half of the season. Getting over that disappointment and trying to seize the opportunity is something I've been stressing this week.
"It turns now from a league campaign into a cup competition and it's something that does feel different. You can only say what a good result is after 180 minutes, but of course you want to be in a good position after the first game.
"We've got a lot of respect for Sunderland, who are a big club. It's an exciting tie and everyone's enthusiastic about what's ahead. We really appreciate all the fans who are making the long trip up there and want to put on a performance for them."
This will be Sunderland's first appearance in the play-offs at any level since 2004, when they were eliminated from the semi-finals of the second-tier play-offs on penalties by Crystal Palace.
Portsmouth are appearing in the Football League play-offs for a third time; they have now featured in the play-offs in the second, third and fourth tiers of English football, becoming the 11th club to do so (Tranmere Rovers the 10th this season also).
The side finishing 5th has been promoted via the third-tier play-offs on fewer occasions than any other position (five times), with Barnsley the last side to do so in 2006.
The team that finished 4th has been promoted in five of the last eight League One play-off campaigns, including Rotherham last season.
This will be the fourth meeting between Sunderland and Portsmouth in all competitions this season; both teams have scored in each of the previous three, with Pompey winning one and the other two finishing level, including a 2-2 draw in the EFL Trophy final in March which Sunderland lost on penalties.
Sunderland are without a win in nine contests against Portsmouth across all competitions (D4 L5) since a 2-0 Premier League triumph in January 2008.
Sunderland have lost just one of their last 24 home matches in league competition (including play-offs), winning 13 and drawing 10, losing the other 4-5 to Coventry in April.
Portsmouth forward Jamal Lowe has been directly involved in eight goals in his last ten appearances in all competitions (five goals, three assists), including two goals in two games against Sunderland during this run.
Sunderland (most recent first): LLDDWL
Last time out: Southend 2-1 Sunderland
Portsmouth: DLDWWW
Last time out: Portsmouth 1-1 Accrington
Until recently, both of these sides had their sights on finishing in the top two. At one point, Sunderland were in pole position to come second at least but their recent form has been poor.
It's not been too long since there were more than 80,000 watching these two at Wembley, while they also met in the league at the Stadium of Light to draw 1-1 last month. They will be more familiar with each other and the atmosphere over both legs will be incredible. Draw for me.
David Prutton predicts: 1-1 (5/1 with Sky Bet)
