Portsmouth 2-0 Sunderland - what was said at the final whistle at Fratton Park

The 2-0 win saw the Blues leapfrog the Black Cats in the League One table and cement themselves in the play-off positions as maintained their impressive run since the start of the year.

Here’s what was said at the final whistle by those closest to the action as Pompey celebrated a key win against one of their key opponents in the race to reach the Championship.

Kenny Jackett

The first half was 50-50 and lots of chances right from the start at both ends.

We’ve scored a good goal from a terrific goal in from Ronan Curtis.

In the second half I thought we were on top from start to finish through the half.

‘’ve got respect for Sunderland as a club and Phil Parkinson is doing a fantastic job there.

But we didn’t let them back into the game.

We got a goal, could’ve had more and it was deserved win.’

Phil Parkinson – via Sunderland Echo

I thought (in the) first half we played some great stuff and were the better side, but there are defining moments in games and the first goal, we didn't think it was a free-kick.

We felt Luke O'Nien was fouled prior to that but (overall) I felt they had a little bit more edge in both boxes than us.

The centre-backs are dominant, we know that, and heading the ball out of your box is so important.

We came up short twice and that's been costly.

When they get the second it gave them a huge lift, we just couldn't get out and get the ball down and play as we had done in the first half.

Cameron McGeehan

Sunderland started quite fast and the first goal has killed them – and it could have been three or four in the end.

They went close last year as well and it’s important to beat those teams in the run in because it’s a confidence booster for us.

It’s three points on the board and I think it sends out a little bit of a message.

I think the club is in a very good place at the minute, there is momentum and big performances against big teams.

It’s a good time to start hitting the form you need to go on towards the end of the season.

There’s a really good togetherness among the lads, you can see that in the performances, a lot of hard work goes into it and reaps the rewards in the end.

It was quite comfortable today. In the second half, especially, we got a foothold.

Neil Allen – The News’ chief sports writer

Classy Pompey overwhelmed promotion rivals Sunderland with a stunning Fratton Park display.

Kenny Jackett's men won 2-0 - a scoreline which would have been even more emphatic had it not been for Black Cats keeper Jon McLaughlin.

Christian Burgess and James Bolton grabbed the goals in a club record-equalling eight successive wins.

And this Blues side are undoubtedly firm contenders for automatic promotion.

Jordan Cross – Pompey writer

The season keeps getting better and better for Pompey as they made it a record-equalling eight wins on the bounce.

The Blues stood toe-to-toe with their in-form foes, before delivering a concussive blow through James Bolton, after Christian Burgess’ third goal in quick succession.

Kenny Jackett's men then pummelled a side unbeaten in nine into submission with a classy showing.

Pompey have the look of a side who know their roles as they closed the game out, and they now have their eyes firmly on the automatic promotion places.

Phil Smith – Sunderland Echo reporter

There had been little in an open an engaging first half, but Sunderland were desperately poor in the second, unable to string together any passing moves and never threatening to test Portsmouth goalkeeper Alex Bass.