Sunderland goalkeeper urges teammates to reimburse travelling fans after Southampton thrashing
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Sunderland goalkeeper Vito Mannone was so ashamed by their 8-0 hammering at Southampton that he is intent on arranging compensation for fans who witnessed it.
More than 2,500 Black Cats fans made a 650-mile round trip and they watched with bemusement and outrage as their side were humiliated at St Mary's on Saturday.
The humiliating 8-0 scoreline matched the club's worst ever defeats at Sheffield Wednesday in 1911, West Ham in 1968, and Watford in 1982.
And Mannone claims the players should make amends by paying back the ticket and travel expenses of the away supporters from their own pockets.
Mannone told reporters: "I will personally talk to the team to see if it is possible to pay for our fans' tickets and their trip. It is difficult for us but it is difficult for them as well."
Sunderland fans started streaming for the exits after Saints scored their fifth goal in the 69th minute, but around 1,000 die hard supporters were still there at the final whistle.
He added: "They are special fans - we are really lucky to be at this club and, if it was me, I would probably not have reacted in the same way as them.
"I really mean that we should pay for their tickets and travel, I will do everything possible to organise it. We should do it because we didn't put our foot in, we didn't work hard.
"We threw in the towel, and I include myself. Each one of us in the team should do our best to make them feel proud of this club and not have to go through 8-0 defeats."
More than 2,500 Black Cats fans made a 650-mile round trip and they watched with bemusement and outrage as their side were humiliated at St Mary's on Saturday.
The humiliating 8-0 scoreline matched the club's worst ever defeats at Sheffield Wednesday in 1911, West Ham in 1968, and Watford in 1982.
And Mannone claims the players should make amends by paying back the ticket and travel expenses of the away supporters from their own pockets.
Mannone told reporters: "I will personally talk to the team to see if it is possible to pay for our fans' tickets and their trip. It is difficult for us but it is difficult for them as well."
Sunderland fans started streaming for the exits after Saints scored their fifth goal in the 69th minute, but around 1,000 die hard supporters were still there at the final whistle.
He added: "They are special fans - we are really lucky to be at this club and, if it was me, I would probably not have reacted in the same way as them.
"I really mean that we should pay for their tickets and travel, I will do everything possible to organise it. We should do it because we didn't put our foot in, we didn't work hard.
"We threw in the towel, and I include myself. Each one of us in the team should do our best to make them feel proud of this club and not have to go through 8-0 defeats."
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