Jack Ross has explained the reasoning behind his substitutions at Wembley.
The Black Cats boss withdrew striker Will Grigg 13 minutes from time with midfielder Max Power taking his place, and also brought on left-back Denver Hume instead of Reece James with a couple of minutes to go.
Ross had already brought on Lynden Gooch for Lewis Morgan, who had run out of steam, and then in injury time - when he was permitted to make a fourth substitution - he sent on frontman Charlie Wyke to replace Grant Leadbitter.
Grigg has been playing through an ankle injury and Ross said: “It was partly that, and partly fatigue.
“He hasn’t trained much recently [because of the ankle] and we are having to try and nurse him through training and into games.
“We’ve also got some big games ahead when we are going to need him, so there were a lot of different factors in that decision.”
Wyke was stripped and ready to come on towards the end of the 90 minutes but an injury to James meant he had to change his plans.
“Reece had picked up an injury so we brought Denver on,” he said.
“We knew at that stage of the game that we would have another substitution to make because the game was going into extra-time, and in extra-time we brought Charlie on.”
Aiden McGeady’s deflected free-kick gave Sunderland a first-half lead and then, after Nathan Thompson had levelled late in normal time and Jamal Lowe had put Pompey in front in extra-time, McGeady struck again to take the game to a penalty shootout.
Ross said: “Aiden is an outstanding footballer who people just assume will dominate in games because he is so talented, but you need to have the application, the desire, and want to do that, and he has done that time after time this season - and again today.”
But the day ended in heartbreak as Lee Cattermole saw his spot-kick saved while Pompey converted all five of their penalties to ensure they got their hands on the trophy and Sunderland left empty-handed.
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