MX23RW : Sunday, May 19 21:15:00| >> :600:378199:378199:
May 16, 2019 at 7.45pm UK at ​Fratton Park
Attendance: 18,077
Portsmouth
0-0
Sunderland
FT

Jack Ross: 'Sunderland will aim to win at Portsmouth'

Jack Ross: 'Sunderland will aim to win at Portsmouth'
© Reuters
The Black Cats take a 1-0 lead into the second leg of their semi-final with Pompey at Fratton Park.

Jack Ross has ordered Sunderland not to leave anything to chance by booking their place in the Sky Bet League One play-off final with a victory at Portsmouth.

The Black Cats head to Fratton Park on Thursday with a 1-0 semi-final first-leg lead knowing a draw will be enough to take them to Wembley for the second time this season.

However, Ross will send out his team with only one target on what promises to be a tense evening on the South Coast.

"We'll go there to win the game because winning it gets us to Wembley. I don't think as a team we need to go there and defend," he told a press conference.

"We're going to have to defend for periods of the game, like we would always but it's about us going there to try to win the match on Thursday evening."

Sunderland hold their advantage thanks to substitute Chris Maguire's lone strike at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.

Maguire, five appearances into his return from a fractured fibula suffered in February, stepped up to the plate in the fourth meeting between the sides this season  to secure a first win for the Black Cats when they needed it most.

Ross said: "The ability to handle the occasion will be important for both sides on Thursday. The ability to be composed within the environment, and disciplined within it in different ways, will be vital as well.

"But equally, you need players who will thrive on the pressure that will be generated, and Chris has shown throughout his career that he is capable of producing big moments in big games."

Saturday's win was just Sunderland's second in eight attempts, a run which ended their hopes of automatic promotion.

Kenny Jackett's men have fared little better with no victory in their last four.

Jackett told the club's official website, www.portsmouthfc.co.uk: "We've been limping along over the past few games, although we've put absolutely everything into them.

"Have we been at our absolute best in that time? No. Do we need to be on Thursday? Yes, we definitely do.

"It's a fixture we have to win and we've got the home advantage, so we need to make the most of that."


Click here for more stories about Jack Ross

Click here for more stories about Portsmouth

Share this article now:
Aiden McGeady in action for Sunderland on April 22, 2019
Read Next:
Aiden McGeady poised to return for Sunderland's playoff campaign
>

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel
/esi/758/0/index.html - esi:0:site:0:-p-: {0}: - :T758:-: {0}: < ! - - T  758 {0} - - >  : 
Scottish Premiership
La Liga
Serie A
Primeira Liga
Turkish Super Lig
Belgian Pro League Playoffs
Greek Superleague Relegation Playoffs
Norwegian Eliteserien
Swedish Allsvenskan
Russian Premier League
Ukrainian Premier League
Welsh Premier League Playoffs
Segunda Division
2.Bundesliga
Eredivisie Promotion Playoffs
Major League Soccer
Liga MX Playoffs
Brasileiro
Uruguayan Primera Division
A-League Finals
Chinese Super League
Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CManchester CityMan City38322495237298
2Liverpool38307189226797
3Chelsea38219863392472
4Tottenham HotspurSpurs382321367392871
5Arsenal382171073512270
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd381991065541166
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves38169134746157
8Everton38159145446854
9Leicester CityLeicester38157165148352
10West Ham UnitedWest Ham38157165255-352
11Watford38148165259-750
12Crystal Palace38147175153-249
13Newcastle UnitedNewcastle38129174248-645
14Bournemouth38136195670-1445
15Burnley38117204568-2340
16Southampton38912174565-2039
17Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton3899203560-2536
RCardiff CityCardiff38104243469-3534
RFulham3875263481-4726
RHuddersfield TownHuddersfield3837282276-5416

Subscribe to our Newsletter


Transfer Talk Daily
Match previews - twice weekly
Morning Briefing (7am UTC)
Ultra close-up image of Kevin De Bruyne [NOT FOR USE IN ARTICLES]Get the latest transfer news, match previews and news direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Loading ...

Failed to load data.

Select and display your favourite team's news and scores in this panel
Login, I already have my ad-free pass
Log in to customise Sports Mole
Buy ad-free access (show me the options)
Buy monthly ad-free access for £1.20/month
Buy yearly ad-free access for £12 (2 months free)
Settings - Logout - Manage your account
Settings - Logout - Manage your account