Pride. Immense flipping pride.

That is all.

 

Yes over the two ties we did well, shame about the two clangers in the first leg. I can't help thinking we could of won this tie with a bit more luck.

Onto Sunday, that's the one I want to win anyway...

 

Two shockers and two posts made all the difference in the end. Sir Bobby's wise words ring through once again... "If only..."

 

so much of it

 

We looked so much better with Marv and Ben Arfa on. Would have loved to have had a go at benfica with them from the start.

 

I really want to see Marv and Ben Afra start on sunday. The latter is probably doubtful to start but I really want to them to rip those bastards apart this weekend

 

I couldnt stop grinning when they were ****ting themselves booting it away at any opportunity after the first goal. We had them badly rattled... So proud of the performance.

Confident about sunday now!

 

We played the game well and did it all in the correct order just couldn't find that second goal when HBA had that chance over the bar I thought it was it. If we play the second half team 2nite against the mackems were in for a game !.

 

What an atmosphere though. 94 mins and a full house. Class.

 

Bit down on it myself. To have the possibility of dying heroics snatched away and realising we wont be seeing Toon in Europe for another few year (not too long I hope )

 

I was really pissed off tonight as there was Benfica fans in our area
our ticket office have a lot to answer for

as for the game we really need to learn how to play the ref
many a time we are getting fouled but not playing it like what they did and going down

 

Any Sunderland fans watching that second half performance will probably be crapping themselves for Sunday. Proud of the lads tonight - Just a shame they couldn't get the second before they scored. Benfica were rattled big time.

 

Thought we were very unlucky, and to concede a last minute goal really rubbed salt in the wounds.

Especially after 5 mins added on time.

 

Very very proud of the performance, the effort, the atmosphere, everything!!! What a night!!

 

let's hope there isn't too long to wait for the next European adventure.

 

One more to add to the list of glorious failures, I'm afraid. Still, they had a good go. We have to give them that.

 

A very good account of ourselves against a European Champions League team. Did well, and that team at the end was looking incredibly threatening.

 

Massive amount of pride. We have to remember where we are in this era. We're only at the start , laying foundations. Lots will be learnt from this Europa campaign by manager, players, coaches, board and hopefully fans. They gave it everything. Of course it is tinged with "what if" because of Saylor and Santon's clangers, but overall we did really well. Well done to benfica too, class side, with a great deal of class the way they go about their work on and off the pitch.

As for the noise, we just go on proving what a great place SJP is to watch and play football.

 

People saying we should have started with Marv and HBA but I think Pardew got it right. HBA particularly would have run out of steam well before the end and Marv was looking completely shattered after the last game.

Overall a good effort. Once again no luck, ref seemed to give almost every 50-50 Benfica's way, bought their diving and failed to give a penalty when Ameobi was clearly fouled with the defender making no contact with the ball.

 

He undoubtedly did. Marveaux was knackered from Fulham and Ben Arfa no where near ready. We had to consider Sunday and I expect Marveaux will start then. Pardew managed his options well I thought and gave us a fighting chance. He got it bang on, again.