Distin travelled an emotional rollercoaster on Tuesday night, netting Everton’s second goal but then dismissed for conceding the late penalty that gave Sporting a precious away goal.

“I have mixed feelings but I am hard with myself so I am only going to remember the red card,” said the centre-back. “I think it is the first straight red of my career.

“Now that I have watched the video of it I think it is a bit harsh as I don’t really go across him and I don’t tackle but we knew they would go easily to the ground so I should have done better.

“It is difficult to say if the red card and the penalty was the right decision but it was a bit harsh.

“It was a 50/50 but it didn’t go my way this time.”

Distin is suspended for Thursday’s trip to the Estadio Jose Alvalade, but is convinced his team-mates can finish the job in his absence.

“I think we can get the result in Lisbon, definitely,” said the Frenchman. “If we start well we can score over there, I am really positive that we will go through.

“We scored two but we could have scored about four and maybe had a penalty awarded as well. We created opportunities so I think we can score a goal over there.”