Sunderland’s players and supporters are still getting over their penalty shoot-out defeat to Portsmouth in the Checkatrade Trophy final this past weekend.

Aiden McGeady netted twice either side of a Pompey comeback to take the game past the 120-minute mark and onto spot kicks.

Lee Cattermole was the only player of the ten to see their effort saved – meaning Jack Ross’ men would come away from Wembley empty-handed.

Sunderland still have the league in their own hands, having three games on Barnsley who are in second.

If the Back Cats win the trio of backlogged fixtures, they will move into second with their promotion fate firmly in their control.

The fallout from Wembley has continued with late second-half substitute Denver Hume coming out on Twitter to express his disappointment at the defeat.

And he offered upbeat words to his teammates and the club’s supporters in the wake of the loss.

He said on the social media platform: “Gutted we couldn’t get the win yesterday but [a] great experience to come on at Wembley in front of 85,000 fans.

“Now to finish the season off strong.”

The verdict

The defeat will hurt the players for some time.

But it is how they respond to a defeat of this magnitude that will define them.

Hume offered solace in the defeat by demanding they finish the season strongly and gain promotion back to the Championship.

That would be redemption for the final defeat – and an aim that should be at the forefront of all the players’ minds going forward.