Sunderland clinched a place in the League One play-off final with a goalless draw at Portsmouth. The hosts had the better of things of what was a scrappy game and came closest when they struck the bar, but the visitors held on.

Both sides started the game in a battling manner, with the referee brandishing as many as three bookings inside the opening twenty minutes as a result.

The hosts stepped up late in the half and had what proved to have been their best two chances of the tie, as Gareth Evans was denied from close range, while Matt Clarke struck the bar after the resulting corner was taken.

Pompey remained on top early in the second half and Oliver Hawkins had a decent chance, but Jon McLaughlin tipped his drive over the bar.

Another chance fell to James Vaughan, with McLaughlin once again successful in stopping the shot, while Pompey also had a penalty shout turned down.

Sunderland managed to slow the game down in the late stages and did not survive a single genuine scare in the late stages, as they reached Wembley.

A disappointing way for Pompey's season to end. They had automatic promotion in their own hands late in the season, but slipped up before crashing out of the play-offs without scoring a goal. It remains to be seen if Kenny Jackett will remain in charge. On the other side, Sunderland have not been impressive for months now, but displayed steel and will have a chance to return to the second tier at the first time of asking.