Jermain Defoe crashed in an injury-time penalty to secure a first victory for new Portsmouth manager Tony Adams.

Click Here to Watch Highlights

Djibril Cisse gave Sunderland the lead after just three minutes after being set free by Andy Reid, but the striker then wasted a succession of chances.

David James denied him three times, while Kieron Richardson hit the post.

Nadir Belhadj then struck from 35 yards after the break to level and, after El-Hadji Diouf fouled Glen Johnson, Defoe earned a real smash-and-grab win.

It was Sunderland’s third straight defeat in the league and leaves boss Roy Keane’s side just a point off the drop zone.

But it could - and should - have been a different story for Sunderland who had enough chances to win the game comfortably against a Portsmouth side that had lost their previous two games since Adams took over from Harry Redknapp.

After their 5-0 mauling to Chelsea last time out, Sunderland had the perfect start when Cisse threaded the ball through James’s legs following Reid’s searching 60-yard pass over the top of the defence.

See Also

• Portsmouth 1-0 Sunderland Highlights
• Hull City 1-4 Sunderland Highlights
• Fulham 0-0 Sunderland Highlights
• Portsmouth 3-2 Blackburn Highlights
• Sunderland 0-1 West Ham Highlights