Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill was upset with home fans over chants made against Newcastle United defender Steven Taylor during yesterday's 1-1 draw.

Taylor was targeted from the warm-up to the end of a tight encounter despite only playing the last 10 minutes as a substitute, and on at least two occasions, smiled at and applauded the home crowd.

However, there were repeated chants of, 'Steven Taylor, we wish you were dead' among other unsavoury offerings from both sets of fans, one from the away end referring to Jimmy Savile, and although both O'Neill and Magpies counterpart Alan Pardew insisted they had not heard them, the Ulsterman voiced his disappointment.

He said: "I didn't know that. That would be poor, in very poor taste, if that's the case.

"I would be disappointed to have heard that."