Nyff

Still shaking. What a game. It was there for all to see how much better we play when we move the ball around and pass it to feet. Ben Arfa lifts the fans and the players alike. He can create something from nothing, and even if he loses the ball once or twice he is still an amazing asset to have. Would love to see him get a run in the team. After all that I will settle for the draw, mind. Okay, we could maybe have nicked it, but on the basis of our first half performance we didn't deserve to win. Mike Dean was shocking today. I think there are two ways refs must think about games. He obviously had it in his mind that he wasn't going to let rash tackles fly in and would book everyone for anything rather than maybe just taking a step back and letting the game flow. Really ruined the game for me. Still can't quite believe their pen. Fair enough, Williamson was having a good tug...of Turners shirt...but Turner was never in a million years going to get that ball, and the same sort of things happen 6 or 7 times a game in the PL nowadays. If Dean is giving that then why didn't we get one for John O Shea raising two hands and shoving Ba at the edge of the box? Just a shame we didn't take advantage when we did actually get a pen.

Shola should have taken the pen. Would have had a hat-trick if he had put that one away.

We deserved the win on that second half performance. If only it wasn't Williamson that the ball dropped to at the end! Also, although HBA can be frustrating sometimes he surely deserves a start on that performance.

HE FUCKING LOVES IT!

SGHOALLASLDAOIWRHF WEAOIR WA""!!!

Just not our day. Victims of our own downfall. Well, that and Mike fucking Dean.

Fuck off. This just isn't for us.

I can't watch.

Fucking love Ben Arfa. Come on lads...

Time for the Mackem destroyer...

Come onnnn!

Already we see how much better we play when we keep it on the floor.

Good start. HBA ripping it up. Come on, early goal please...

Ben Arfa stripped and warming up on the pitch.

Harper looking very down at half time on ESPN. <3

Grabbing shirts in the box goes on in every bloody game. Was Turner anywhere near the ball? No, was he fuck. Fucking bullshit.

Mike Dean on a one man mission to make the headlines himself.

Fucking hell. We have played shocking, but did seem to be growing into it towards the end. Still, been a pile of wank. Just no creativity. The penalty was a joke and the refereeing in general has been rubbish.

Ref might as well take off that blue top and reveal the red and white tops he's wearing underneath

What a fucking piss take!? Who the fuck is this ref!???

You are fucking kidding me!?

This ref is shocking. Not letting the game flow and handing out yellows for fun.

Cattermole the dirty c-nt.

Thought England looked half decent at points tonight. Wouldn't mind Pearce getting the job full time. He played an exciting side tonight, and with his U21 experience he would hopefully blood in some youngsters who would at least show a little bit of passion. Gerrard was crap and Barry shouldn't ever play for England again. Still, it is at least a little bit promising...

Had one of the two shots he had gone in (and they weren't far out) then things would be a lot different here. I admit it was frustrating to see him losing the ball so often, but apart from maybe one occasion when he should have crossed instead of running it out of play, it was rare that there was anything on for him except the Obertan style back pass to Simpson. It was an awkward time for anyone to come on, regardless of who it was. The players' heads were down after letting a two goal lead slip, and Ba was hardly at his best. It is just because we have such high expectations of Ben Arfa. In my view, he needs a decent run out of a few games before we actually decide whether or not he is worth it. On yesterdays performance we would have never wanted to see Guthrie in a black and white shirt again, yet we have seen how much good a run in the team can do for him.