Charlie Wyke made his apologies after Sunderland suffered back-to-back defeats for the first time under Jack Ross, then focused on revenge.
An insipid display at Southend United saw the Black Cats finish fifth in League One while the hosts, 2-1 winners, avoided relegation on goal difference.
With Portsmouth held at home to Accrington Stanley, a Sunderland victory would have secured third place and a tie with Doncaster Rovers, with the second leg at the Stadium of Light. Instead, they will host Kenny Jackett’s Pompey on Saturday evening, before travelling south for the second leg a week on Thursday.
Pompey won December’s encounter at Fratton Park, drew April’s return fixture 1-1 and won the Football League Trophy on penalties after a 2-2 draw at Wembley.
“We know what they’re about,” said centre-forward Wyke.
“We’ll do our analysis and see where we can hurt them, we’ve played them a few times this season and haven’t beaten them but I think it’s time to put that right now and get a bit of revenge.
“We didn’t put our chances away on the day (when they played at the Stadium of Light) but we know we can create them and we’ve just got to take then when they come.”
That was one of the many things they did not do at Roots Hall. Sunderland have won one of their last seven games.
Lightweight up front and characteristically sloppy at the back, even Chris Maguire’s penalty for a shove on Wyke, could not turn the game around despite cancelling out John White’s acrobatic volley. Substitute Stephen Humphrys scored an 87th-minute winner for the Shrimpers, who held off Plymouth Argyle and Wimbledon on goal difference.“All we can do is apologise,” said Wyke.
“And the only way we can apologise is by going on Saturday and winning, and look forward from there.
“The fans have been fantastic all season and I’m sure they’ll come out in force and support us.
“Everyone will be disappointed, for us we’ve got to look back on what we did wrong, where we can be better and address it.
“We’ve got to keep that mood upbeat, train hard and look forward to Saturday.
“We know what we’ve got to do now, we’ve got to win three games and that’s all we can focus on.
“It hasn’t quite happened for us this week. We’ve been really disappointed with the results and the performances, we’ve got to address it.”
Portsmouth are not heading into the game in prime form either, having taken two points from a possible nine since Sunderland ended their seven-match winning streak in the league.
The most confident side going into the play-offs appear to be Charlton Athletic, whose 4-0 win at home to Rochdale saw them leapfrog Pompey and the Black Cats on the final evening. Doncaster matched Peterborough United’s result to secure sixth.
Pressure on Sunderland's Jack Ross but the verdict cannot be reached just yet
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