Meanwhile, it appears that striker Nwankwo Kanu will be out of the Nigeria squad for Saturday's game.

BBC: SPORT | Football | African | Nigeria to seek foreign coach

It was looking like a first home league defeat for Forest since September 2009 after Nwankwo Kanu gave Portsmouth a lead they held until the 87th minute.

BBC: Nottm Forest 2-1 Portsmouth

Thereafter, only Portsmouth looked like scoring and, with substitute Nwankwo Kanu pulling the strings and Glen Johnson bombing forward down the right, only poor finishing kept Sunderland in the game.

BBC: Portsmouth 1-0 Sunderland