It's a funny old game. We were 2-0 up and cruising at half-time only to concede two goals in a couple of minutes in the second half and then hang on for a draw. Two points lost.

I rarely complain about referees, on the basis that it's humanly impossible to spot everything, but today's official stretched my patience to breaking point. Allowing the game to run is fine, but ignoring fouls that warranted at least a lecture if not a card infuriated the home crowd. And at the end Pardew went on the the pitch to tell him what he thought of him - I couldn't really blame him.

Still, we're not too badly placed in the league and we have a steadily improving team. A playoff spot seems the best we can now hope for, but two or three straight wins would have us right up there.