Sunderland kept pace at the top of the Sky Bet Championship with a 1-0 win over 10-man Portsmouth at the Stadium of Light.

Wilson Isidor’s early goal was enough to secure a second successive home win for the Black Cats, who moved three points behind leaders Leeds.

It was a fourth straight away defeat for Pompey, who had captain Marlon Pack sent off midway through the second half for bringing down Isidor. John Mousinho’s side remained above the relegation zone on goals scored.

After a successful switch to 4-4-2 for the midweek win over Sheffield United, Regis Le Bris again decided to partner Isidor and Eliezer Mayenda up front and the decision quickly paid dividends.

Just seven minutes had been played when Mayenda picked out the run of his strike partner with a defence-splitting pass and Isidor confidently slotted away his third goal in four games.

Portsmouth were fortunate to not find themselves two goals down 10 minutes later when Adil Aouchiche’s cross found Patrick Roberts at the back post, but the winger’s volley was hacked off the line.

Aouchiche forced a good low save from Nicolas Schmid when he cut in from the left and took aim for the far corner just after the half-hour mark.

Portsmouth did not have a shot on target in the first half but did go close five minutes before the break when Josh Murphy, the twin brother of Newcastle winger Jacob, curled just over the bar from the edge of the box.

Isidor had the ball in the net for a second time two minutes before half-time but the striker had strayed offside. Mayenda then had a glorious chance but fired into the side-netting from a tight angle when Aouchiche was available for a tap-in.

Sunderland goalkeeper Anthony Patterson gifted Portsmouth a good chance to level early in the second half with a loose pass, but the eventual cross from the right was headed wide by striker Colby Bishop.

Half-time substitute Dennis Cirkin made a difference on the left for Sunderland and crossed for Isidor, who volleyed over. The striker then went close to scoring his and the Black Cats’ second 20 minutes into the second half when he fired just over from the edge of the area.

Portsmouth’s task was made all the more difficult at the midway stage of the second period when last man Pack was sent off for dragging Isidor down as the striker raced in on goal.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Portsmouth grew in confidence in the final stages but could not force an unlikely equaliser.