That 2nd half performance was superb.Cant fault anyne today apart from the lino who somehow missed that handball.11th in the league.COMOOOON!!!!
That is an absolutely huge point. Absolutely screwed by the officials, Investigation-worthy performance from them.
Great to earn a draw and even match what was an admittedly poor Sunderland side with ten men away from home for 60 mins. Everybody played their part, side from a costly mistake each, Turner and Bassong were excellent, the full-backs had their best games in ages, Johnson was really effective at breaking the play up, Howson was much, much more better than last week and looked like the player he was last season. Both wingers worked their socks off all game, forced into doubling up defensively but still looked a threat. It is a shame we had to dispense Hoolahan because he was looking very useful for the first half hour. Kamara, and later Holt both were very effective considering they were up against a back four by themselves. Fantastic effort all round! Don't want to dwell on the incidents too long, because we shouldn't let them detract from our performance. I thought the Bunn red card was probably fair game, because he was out the area and the ball hit him in the arm when Graham otherwise had a clean run on goal. He didn't mean to or need to, but he did and that is that. The Bassong penalty incident is less clear cut because it has hit him in the chest an rolled onto his upper arm, and certainly isn't deliberate. I don't think it should have been a penalty and to be honest the amount of times that has happened to an opposition player against us and nothing given, I have lost count. As for the Danny Rose handball, it is clearly in the penalty area, so why it is given as a free-kick is a mystery to me. So on the basis of the decisions, we are a bit unlucky to only draw, but you sure can't fault the effort we put in! Proud! And a quick mention for Hughton having the foresight to bring in a third goalkeeper when at the start of the season some thought Ruddy alone would be enough. No 'keeper on Earth would have stopped that penalty, but it is nice to have an experienced goalie in for the games whilst Bunn is suspended. OTBC IHWT
Lino didn't miss the handball, just gave a free-kick instead. No doubt we have good reason to feel mistreated by the officials but getting the point makes those decisions a whole lot easier to digest.
I do actually hope we finish the day in 12th though. A Newcastle win against Wigan would suit us better than the extra place in the league.
Without the defensive drilling put into the team by Chris hughton we would have lost that game. Balance will come with attack and defence, but we put in a hell of a shift today.
I think I'd prefer the extra place in the league. We are safe enough now I think, let's look upwards not down. That was a disgraceful performance by the officials today - how they could get those 3 major decisions all wrong, bearing in mind they need to be certain, is beyond me. I can't remember ever being so outraged about a referee in all my 35 years of watching football.
if anyone goes into work tomorrow and is as incompetent as those officials they would be facing the sack. come back Clattenburg, all is forgiven.
Why the ref went straight for the pocket (red) and then visited the lino was the game change for me. I've seen yellow to red, but never the other way around.WTF was the ref doing there? Bunn was considerably upset and for Snograss to then take a yellow for my similar complaint: well I was fecked right off. Rose' hand was inside the box for 'that' incident. Poor reffing all round, but as I said to my long suffering wife, (as we pushed for a win) well done the City. An excellent away point, and hope Bunn's card is rescineded as it hit him under the arm pit, just as the one for Bassong hit him on the nipple and 'might' have rolled onto his left arm - but for what? A clear goal scoring chance? Feck NO. Rant over
Proud ?? Yes you should be lads. You got done over with 3 big decisions no doubt about it and were well worth a point in fact probably more. If it makes you feel a little bit better its happened to us two weeks running so you're in good company. Good luck for the rest of the season apart from the obvious of course
I wouldn't go as far as saying proud but I would congratulate the players on a tremendous organisational performance. Accepting the odd misplaced pass or panicked clearance, the overall second half showing was a credit to their fitness and teamwork. Johnny Howson, please play like that every week. And if Bradders doesn't get POTY then there is no justice. He isn't the sharpest knife skillwise but he is dynamic as a worker bee! And I really think its time for M0'N to pack it in. He has spent a fortune on that attack and doesn't have a clue how to use it. Adam Johnson must be the most overrated player on the planet and Vaughan just doesn't do a thing apart from the totally obvious. They are the most boring, unimaginative team I have seen for a long long time.
We played with 10 men away from home in the premier league and still got a valuable point. I don't see how you can be anything else but proud. Agree with you on the rest. Sunderland will be biting their nails in the run in, they have some extrememly hard games coming up.
Thai, they're in holiday mode already mate. We got Spurs next after the international break and then you the week after, the way it's going we'll get bugger all from either game. Mind you we did get don't big time last week with that "offside" goal at WBA
Sounds like burn out mate, they have worked their cocks off to get where they are now. Still, a good season whatever happens between now and May
