Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill blasted Newcastle United after yesterday's 1-1 draw.

O'Neill accused Toon of trying to influence referee Mike Dean at half-time, which was denied by Alan Pardew.

Tempers flared on the touchline with Toon chief Pards and O'Neill squaring up before and after Demba Ba won a 72nd-minute penalty.

The spot-kick was saved by Simon Mignolet before Shola Ameobi levelled at the death.

But with Toon goalkeeping coach Andy Woodman sent to the stands for a bust-up with Sunderland's Jim Henry, clashes erupted all over the place.

Add in eight bookings, as well as two straight red cards for Stephane Sessegnon, during the game, and Lee Cattermole, AFTER full-time, it was carnage.

O'Neill said: "The ref said he had sent Lee off for foul and abusive language towards the ref. It must have been coming up towards the tunnel. I don't think you can be doing that.

"You should leave that to me if that's the case. But possibly in mitigation we had heard that some of their staff had visited the ref's changing room at half-time.

"We're not party to what was said. Lee's mitigating circumstance was a lot of decisions had gone Newcastle's way in the second half. That may be but that doesn't mean I agree with it. Newcastle can count themselves lucky to have 11 men on the field at the end if the ref is continuing to play according to the way he started the game."