FAN'S VIEW: By Adrian Ottiwell

THERE are a few factors that a supporter can consider when trying to work out if his or her team has got any chance of winning on match day.

One factor is whether or not the opposition's international players are playing and in this case Kevin Phillips was.

Another is to check on who is officiating the game and as I read the morning paper my heart sank as I saw the name D Elleray.

I'm not going to make excuses for the result because we missed our chances and Sunderland took theirs but the officiating was poor. It wasn't just the Coca-Cola drinking referee because he was given absolutely no assistance from his assistants.

In the second half there was a handball by Sunderland, such a clear handball that even Lofty could see it through his thick mane. But no! No movement from Elleray or his linesman. Then, when we finally did win a penalty, the guilty defender is not sent off!

The word "consistency" is used a great deal when speaking about referees and decisions like that show why.

Football-wise I don't think we need to panic. We were the better side but, as always in the Premier League, you get punished for chances missed.

Man of the match: Jermaine Johnson.