Player Ratings: Benfica B 0-0 Sunderland - Here’s how the Lads rated in Portuguese run out

First Half

Lee Burge, 7/10: Made one great save just before half-time, but was untested otherwise. His distribution was inconsistent.

Conor McLaughlin, 7/10: Looks like one of our most accomplished players already, has a great first touch, excellent quick feet under pressure and decent all-round technical quality.

Jordan Willis, 6/10: Looks a decent player, perhaps guilty of trying too hard to impress here, making a couple poor mental errors just before half-time.

Alim Ozturk, 6/10: Started the game poorly, being extremely wasteful in possession. However, as Benfica grew into the game, so too did our Turkish stopper, making a couple excellent last ditch interventions.

Jack Baldwin, 6/10: Baldwin was great in possession but far too ponderous when Benfica broke on the counter attack - he was guilty of ball-watching and just looking outright slow on a few occasions when Lynden Gooch was caught out.

Ethan Robson, 4/10: Struggled badly to impact the game. Gave away possession in the Sunderland half a couple times and picked up a needless booking after failing to control a simple ball.

Grant Leadbitter, 6/10: All attacks in the first-half went through Leadbitter, the fact it was 0-0 with Sunderland struggling to create chances outside of one ten minute spell, summed up the erratic nature of Leadbitter’s performance.

Lynden Gooch, 7/10: For a 10-15 minute spell Gooch was the best player on the pitch by a mile. Gooch could have had two assists if Will Grigg and Charlie Wyke had buried excellent chances.

Chris Maguire, 6/10: Won Sunderland possession in dangerous areas on several occasions, unfortunately Maguire’s creativity didn’t match his intensity. He was guilty of taking too many touches too often and rarely threatened.

Charlie Wyke, 5/10: Barely involved, plus Wyke squandered a great chance one-on-one.

Will Grigg, 5/10: Like Wyke, Grigg missed a golden chance and spent most of the match as a spectator.

Second Half

Glenn Loovens, 5/10: Was slow and sluggish picking a dumb yellow card for crashing ten minutes late into a needless challenge.

Ruben Sammut, 7/10: As impressive as any Wearsider - used the ball smartly, showcased his good technique and passing range, almost always making the right decision in possession.

Luke O’Nien, 6/10: Barely caught the eye on the right flank, O’Nien did play a few of his trademark smart slide rule passes.

Benji Kimpioka, 6/10: Played with great energy but struggled to find the killer ball or beat his man decisively.

Dylan McGeouch, 7/10: Helped Sunderland regain the upper hand in his brief cameo.

Duncan Watmore, 6/10: Unlucky to hit the bar with his chipped effort late on.

Denver Hume:, 5/10: Another who looked too eager to impress, Hume overran the ball twice in excellent attacking areas.

Tom Flanagan, 6/10: Didn’t do a lot bad or good with Sunderland chasing a winner at the other end after his late introduction.

Elliot Embleton, 7/10: Like McGeouch, it was Embleton’s quality that helped Sunderland recapture momentum and control in the match late on.

Man of the Match: Lynden Gooch