DESPITE their goalkeeper saying he believed Sunderland's players should look at reimbursing fans who witnessed the club's 8-0 thrashing at the weekend, a leading supporter says things need to be viewed in perspective.

The thumping at St Mary's was the Black Cats' heaviest in the Premier League and stopper Vito Mannone said he thought the club owed the fans who made the near 650-mile round trip a refund.

“I will personally talk to the team to see if it is possible to pay for their (fans) tickets and their trip,” said Mannone. “It is difficult for us on a day like this, but it’s very difficult for them as well. It is a difficult moment."

One fan, who just happens to be a man of the cloth, offered up something more in keeping with his calling.

The Reverend Chris Howson, of Sunderland Minster, tweeted: “It was like watching a car crash in slow motion.

“Prayers needed for players and supporters.”

Other fans also took to social media to express their anger at the defeat.

Arnold Alston spoke for many on Facebook when he said: “Players should donate next week’s wages to reimburse the travelling fans' expenses (with) the remaining, which will considerable, going to charity.”

Robbie Savage, former player and one-time Sunderland target, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live’s 606 programme echoed that call saying: “If I was captain of that team on the way back on the bus or the plane, however they travel, I’d be saying ‘Monday morning I want a significant part of your wages to provide back the money for the 700-mile round trip for the fans’, not acceptable.”

However, Martyn McFadden, editor of the Sunderland fanzine A Love Supreme, urged restraint.

“Refunding the fans or some kind of gesture would be good, but I am not looking for the club to do that," he said. “I am sure they (the players) will pay for it in training this week and I am sure they were in today as well.

"Obviously, it was a terrible defeat, but at the end of the day it was only a loss of three points.

“It’s a matter of how well they bounce back from it and not dwell on it. People have been trying to get me to call for (manager Gus) Poyet’s head.

“But I think it is one defeat – generally he has done well since he has arrived. Let’s hope that we can move on from it and have a decent performance against Arsenal next week.”

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