Luke O’Nien put on another quality performance as Sunderland thrashed Portsmouth on their own turf.
The Black Cats didn’t enjoy the best first half display at Fratton Park, but a comical own goal by Pompey put them in the driving seat within half an hour.
Sunderland turned it up a gear in the second 45 minutes, with Alan Browne and Romaine Mundle making it 3-0 inside an hour.
The Wearside outfit looked like they could score even more as they earned their fourth successive win in the Championship, while they were initially on course to make it the same amount of games without conceding a goal.
However, Luke O’Nien went onto bizarrely head the ball into his own net in the dying minutes, with no Portsmouth player around him.
The defender and his teammates looked visibly distraught after conceding their first goal of the season, but O’Nien was able to see the funny side afterwards.
O’Nien jokes about ‘third goal of the season’
He wrote on X: “No celebrations for my third goal of the season, but delighted to be the only man to score past Anthony Patterson this season 🫣.
“Four wins from four going into the international break ⚽️ Thank you travelling fans 👏👏👏”.
“So sorry lads… but at least we got the 3 points 😁❤️”.
Jobe Bellingham was one player eager to praise O’Nien despite his mistake, writing: “Still a legend”.
The Sunderland defender has been too good to criticise
It is incredibly frustrating for Sunderland and the fans as they looked on track for another clean sheet, but it shows how high standards have grown for that to even be a thing right now.
The main thing is the three points and 3-0 would have been a well-deserved scoreline for the Black Cats, but they definitely won’t complain.
No one can say anything about O’Nien either, because while he made a mistake, he has comfortably been one of the best players so far this term.
The 29-year-old claimed two goals in the first two games and has been key to running a tight ship in the backline.
He has looked calm, composed and a brick-wall at the back, while his passing range is one of the best in the team.
He was heavily criticised last season, but even an own goal can’t make supporters turn against him this time round.