Image source, Rex Features

Right,

Time to wrap up warm and hit the road for home.

If you want more reflections on a vital win for Sunderland then you can read my colleague Adam Lanigan's report here.

And we've got all the Championship news too.

In League Two Crewe are up to second with their 4-1 hammering of Bromley.

We're back tomorrow night with another treat from the Championship as QPR host Luton Town.

See you then...

Image source, Oxford United

Who does your side need to sign to maintain their challenge, escape mid-table or climb out of trouble?

The January transfer madness is well under way and we've already had a club record signing for Oxford United today with forward Ole Romeny joining from Dutch top-flight club Utrecht.

There have also been plenty of moves elsewhere in the Championship, League One and League Two.

You can keep up to date right here on the BBC Sport website and app with our dedicated transfer page - it's sure to get even busier before we hit February!

Image source, PA Media

At the end of January 2024, Luton Town thrashed Brighton 4-0 to move out of the Premier League's relegation zone.

At the start of January 2025, the Hatters are two points above the bottom three in the Championship.

Manager Rob Edwards has said he will not walk away from the challenge ahead, despite conceding there is understandable anger from a section of supporters about the club's current position.

On Monday, Luton face a QPR side that has taken 19 points from their past 10 Championship games to move six points clear of the bottom three.

Follow live text coverage of the game on the BBC Sport website and app.

Goals scored is the only stat keeping Portsmouth out of the relegation zone and they really do need to do something about their awful away form.

It's putting more and more pressure on them to keep an excellent home run going.

After an FA Cup trip to Wycombe there's a tricky league game at Blackburn to tackle.

Now, there's a long way to go but I will just mention Pompey's final match of the season is at home....to Hull City...

It looks like two from four for the automatic promotion places doesn't it?

That was a vital win for Sunderland to stay within reach of the top three and keep the chasing pack at arms length.

There's a break for the FA Cup next week but the Black Cats next league game is the small matter of a trip to Burnley on 17 January - now that's what I call a Friday night thriller.

Gary Bennett
Ex-Sunderland defender on BBC Radio Newcastle

Credit to Portsmouth, everyone expected them to get beaten by a few, but they stuck in.

That’s two wins in two this year for Sunderland, they did enough to win in the end.

From our side, I think there will be a few changes for the FA Cup game next week.

Another clean sheet and the three points for Sunderland, that’s the important part.

A very happy Sunday afternoon for Crewe Alexandra, who have gone second in League Two with a convincing home win.

Omar Bogle's two goals and a third from Jack Lankester put the Alex in command, with Jamie Knight-Lebel completing the scoring with a tidy header late on.

Michael Cheek's penalty to make it 2-1 had given Bromley brief hope but Andy Woodman's side fall to their first league defeat since mid-October and they are six points off the play-offs.

Guy Whittingham
Former Portsmouth manager on BBC Radio Solent

Disappointing dispaly in the end.

The goal was too easy, Sunderland had some good play and created some chances, but so did Pompey.

Portsmouth dug in (after the red card) and almost got something at the end there.

Meanwhile, heading into stoppage time in our solitary League Two game.

Image source, Rex Features

Sunderland move back to within two points of the Championship's automatic promotion places while it's now only goals scored keeping Portsmouth out of the relegation zone.

Wilson Isidor's seventh minute goal - slipping the ball past an out of position goalkeeper Nicolas Schmid was enough in the end but it should have been a lot more comfortable.

Isidor had a second rightly disallowed when he was inches offside and he also sent a second-half effort narrowly over the bar.

Eliezer Mayenda wasted a glaring chance by hammering a shot into the side netting and then saw Rob Atkinson block his goalbound effort from no more than two yards.

Portsmouth offered very little in attack - failing to make the most of Sunderland's wastefulness in front of goal.

The visitors' task was made all the harder on 67 minutes when Marlon Pack's error of judgement meant he had to haul down Isidor and the ensuing red card was inevitable.

Sunderland still unbeaten at home while Portsmouth have lost four on the bounce away for the first time since November 2014.

Eliezer Mayenda is off for Sunderland and Nazariy Rusyn gets 90 seconds to run around.

Sunderland's Chris Mepham prevents a Portsmouth attack illegally - yellow card.

Four minutes of added time for Sunderland to hold on or Portsmouth to sneak something.

A scramble in the Sunderland box.

Callum Lang sends in a brilliant cross and Colby Bishop's header is goalbound but hits Chris Mepham and the home side hammer it away.

Looks like it hits Mepham's arm...

Was that the moment?

Well, Owen Moxon now takes a shot from 20 yards but straight at Anthony Patterson - nervous anyone?

Nick Barnes
BBC Newcastle's Sunderland commentator

Portsmouth are still very much in the game, despite having the red card.

They're making life for Sunderland very difficult at the end here.

Image source, Rex Features

Owen Moxon and Christian Saydee are on for Portsmouth.

Heading off are Freddie Potts and Andre Dozzell.

If they're going to nick something they need to do it now.

Trai Hume has a pop at goal for Sunderland from a nice Patrick Roberts lay-off but Nicolas Schmid is behind the shot to save.

Bromley's slim chance of fighting back to earn anything from this game are severely dented as Kamarl Grant is sent off for a second bookable offence.

About 10 minutes and stoppage time left to play.

Image source, Rex Features

39,846 shivering souls, including a good few hundred from the south coast, are inside the Stadium of Light today - most of them are satisfied at the moment but not sitting too comfortably with such a narrow lead.