---
title: "Sunderland: Gooch, Flanagan and Neil struggle v Portsmouth"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/gooch-flanagan-neil-portsmouth-league-one/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Adam Clancy"
section: "Sunderland News"
published: "2022-01-23T12:15:37Z"
modified: "2022-01-23T12:15:37Z"
---

# Sunderland: Gooch, Flanagan and Neil struggle v Portsmouth

**Sunderland picked up another vital three points in their hunt for automatic promotion from League One with a 1-0 win at home to Portsmouth on Saturday afternoon.**

Elliot Embleton netted the only goal of the game in the first half after being slid in by Ross Stewart, in a victory which was not always smooth sailing as the visitors had more possession of the ball and more shots on goal ([SofaScore](https://www.sofascore.com/sunderland-portsmouth/csQ)).

\[freshpress-poll id=”346351″\]

Despite the victory, some players struggled for the home side, and *The Transfer Tavern* have assessed statistical experts [SofaScore](https://www.sofascore.com/sunderland-portsmouth/csQ) to analyse who the three worst performers (to have played at least 45 minutes) were for Lee Johnson’s team at the Stadium of Light:

### Daniel Neil (6.8)

Admittedly tied with Leon Dajaku in terms of rating ([6.8](https://www.sofascore.com/sunderland-portsmouth/csQ)), Neil ranks in third here as he played the whole match, whereas the Bayern Munich loanee was withdrawn in the final few minutes.

The 20-year-old midfielder lost out on seven of his duels in total and also failed to record a single shot on target or clearance, while giving possession away 11 times as well.

### Tom Flanagan (6.6)

The only Sunderland player to be given a yellow card, Flanagan ranks second-worst with a [6.6](https://www.sofascore.com/sunderland-portsmouth/csQ) overall rating.

The defender lost 10 duels, the joint-most out of his teammates, and did not block any shots, while his 21 losses of possession was the joint-most out of any player on the pitch.

### Lynden Gooch (6.2)

Gooch was ranked as Sunderland’s worst player with a measly [6.2](https://www.sofascore.com/sunderland-portsmouth/csQ) rating.

The American lost six duels and never managed a pop at goal, key pass, accurate cross or long ball. Defensively he made no interceptions, while he also gave the ball away on 19 separate occasions on a day to forget for the 26-year-old.

***In other news,*** [***find out what transfer update has had these Black Cats supporters raging***](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/sunderland-transfer-rumours/transfer-news-jermain-defoe-league-one-3/)