TIM Sherwood's Tottenham team were comprehensively beaten by Portugal's Benfica in a sobering home tie in the Europe League tonight (Thursday).

The visitors hit three away goals with Spurs only managing one in reply – and under-fire Sherwood admitted afterwards the Europa League dream was almost certainly up.

“We'll go there [to Lisbon] next week and have a go, but tonight was a difficult game for all the players,” said the crestfallen manager.

“I can't fault our desire and effort. We did our best, but they were simply better than us.”

He now has to lift a squad shorn of confidence for the visit of Arsenal on Sunday – but he tried to put a brave face on what the weekend holds.

“Playing Arsenal is probably the best game we could have right now,” said the manager.

“We do not need any motivating. The players know how much it means.”

Spurs had pressed their visitors from the start, pumping the ball forward for Emmanuel Adebayor and Harry Kane up front, but it was Benfica who opened the scoring. On 29, a simple through ball found Rodrigo in space and he finished neatly from the right. The home side had been given instruction to pressure the Benfica centre backs and look for Adebayor and Kane's height – but the closest Spurs went were a couple of half chances in the box from knock downs and a shot from Sandro that flew over the bar.

On 57, the game slipped further out of Tottenham's grasp when Benfica captain Luisao won a free header from a corner and nodded the ball home.

On 61, Kane was awarded a free kick in the edge of the box and Christian Eriksen showed his dead ball skills with a marvellous curler that flew into the top left hand corner. Spurs had their tails up and began to pile on the pressure, but as the game became increasingly scrappy, they could not find a way back.

Luisao effectively finished the tie on 83 with a thumping shot from close range after Spurs failed to clear a corner. It was coming – the home side's efforts had been disjointed throughout.

SPURS COMMENT by Dan Carrier

MARCH was billed as the make or break month for Tim Sherwood's tenure. A double header against Benfica and league games against Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Southampton were tests that would show the measure of the coach and his side.

For 55 minutes against Chelsea, Sherwood looked like he may have pulled something out of the hat, only to see his side fall to bits after a silly error and a dodgy decision.

Against a very good Benfica side, it wasn't pretty from the start.

Long balls were aimed at the centre forwards, possession was handed around like a hot potato, and were ultimately Sherwood's game plan was undone by opponents that were well organised and balanced. With two right footers in Kyle Naughton and Christian Eriksen playing on the left, the side had no width, and they will need a miracle to get anything out of the return tie in Portugal in seven days time.