Blues see through Taylor's red mist to take the points

I don't normally give MotM to Ossie but I thought he played a blinder. I thought we played quite well even with only the one option of playing down the left.

I thought Johnny H was shown to be very ordinary. Also, Jela needs a rest.

Thanks for the report.

It comes to something when Everton score a goal and despite all looking well I'm immediately looking for the Ref's decision, and not being at all surprised when disallowed for no reason.

The refereeing quality is ridiculously poor presently and I don't buy the line that with all the cameras they're under a lot more scrutiny etc etc. Its been that way for twenty years.

Players are defining what a foul should be with the falling over and complaining and all the rest of it. Is it too much to ask refs to grow some balls and tell then to get on with the game? Because until they do many fans I know simply do not enjoy what football is, yet only their support for their team has them unconditionally retain their interest.

Alan Hansen trying to defend the decision on Osman's goal was simply sour grapes on another Everton victory. He then condoned diving as well. He's fast becoming as ridiculous as all the other reds.

Into 4th. Lets stop saying we're not capable of CL qualification because undoubtedly there is more than enough skill and fight to do so.

It seems like the first two qualifications the refs must have to get to PL is they must be blind and (I hesitate to say stupid) incapable of making balanced decisions.

I might be blue biased but, when Cole was shown the red, I was irritated as shit by the ridiculous decision and, when Gibson was sufficiently stupid to do precisely the same thing, I thought Dickwit! — even though I think he is great for Everton.

Jelavic is having a tough time. He missed at least two very presentable chances, his hold-up play was poor and he was offside a boat load. That said, I thought he got far more involved than of late and think it will come. Those chances could have easily gone in, those offsides were close, whilst one ricket by the linesman at the margins and we would have been saying how great he is.

Heitinga, was terrible again. I am not a fan. He is slow and ponderous, which again was exposed for the cole goal again – à la Kone. If it wasn't for injuries he would have been pulled off at half-time for the second time in the season which says a lot.

People have had a go at Moyes over Heitinga, but it is him who is putting in these unacceptable performances. Don't give me any old pony his confidence has gone, or he is upset of being overlooked for Jagielka – we are talking about a 28-year-old international of a major country who can't lift his game for himself, even if it's putting himself in the shop window. The goal conceded, like Howard's ridiculous star jumps, came from him not moving his feet quick enough to get at the striker, which is a bit of a theme.

Otherwise Gibson is crucial. Osman and Pienaar were class. Jelly will rediscover form (he still has 6 or 7 goals right so not too shabby). Shame not to see Barkley or Oviedo, think Moyes may have them lined up for Wigan at home which should see us have majority of possession.

Osman has really improved so much and has more than made up for the loss of Arteta. He played really well for the whole 90 minutes and my normal reservations about his stamina were proved very wrong. Both he and Pienaar are very lightweight but they certainly don't avoid getting involved and they always look for the ball.

I just hope and think that Jelli will start scoring again soon as he does not hide and is obviously trying. Anichebe had a decent game I thought and his strength is a good option but he cannot play the Fellaini role. I think that the side will be the same for the Wigan game with Naismith starting if Gibson is suspended. So far we are less pleasing on the eye without Mirallas, Coleman and Fellaini but we are not losing games. We also miss Hibbert as Jagielka was certainly missed in central defence against Cole.

Despite being on the short end of every refereeing decision we are still in the hunt. I just hope that the board give DM some finances to bolster the squad as otherwise we will struggle to maintain our challenge. Even if we manage a top four place our squad is too small to play the extra games.

1. Heitinga looks very slow and just not at it... although I do appreciate his tweet that he must do better;
2. Jags was incredibly uneasy at right-back with his face telling the story as he can't pick a pass at the best of times; and
3. Gibson is vital to our ball retention... a very clever player who just drifts into spaces and knows his next pass before he even receives the ball. We're going to miss him most.

Moyes had the chance to keep the centre backs settled and blood Barkley yesterday by putting Neville at right-back and leaving Heitinga out with Barkley in on the right. Neville could have talked him through the game and pulled him up on positional play which – from watching the live games he played for Sheff Wed – was his biggest fault.

Great 3 points but Moyes, who by the way I'm a big fan of, has missed a trick I'm afraid.

Team selection: Like most, baffled by Jags playing right back, but it was clearly designed to stop Jarvis, who is two-footed, fast and skillful: Pip no longer fast or fit enough for that job, and Heitinga would've been roasted... plus 2 yellows for certain. Problem is it weakened a central defence already shaky on crosses.

Heitinga is (sad to say) simply rubbish at all forms of basic defending: he can't tackle, block off or head the ball for shit (for example) and nor does he have the anticipation or pace to compensate. Frankly, all he can do is get his head up and ping a pass – but not as good as Gibbo, so he has no place in this team. Let him go; it's sad to watch.

I suspect if Moyes has to cover RB again in the present emergency, while we have no right backs, it will again be Jags, just for tackling ability and pace, but I'd prefer to see Duffy in the middle. With Pip covering on the ground, it ought to work.

As for Neville: barely noticed him at all except for one goal-saving interception when he followed Jarvis into the box – which nobody else would have read. If you don't see him, he is doing alright – he just kept giving the ball easy to the real footballers, which is his job, and he did it well. Selection justified. And big ups to him for having the dedication to get recovered and fit so fast after knee surgery, especially at 35 with all those miles on the clock.

Osman goal: The decision was sickening, but understandable. Vic had one arm round the goalie's waist... unfortunately it was the arm on the linesman's side. The fucker obviously presumed the other arm was holding too, and with hundreds of bubble-headed Irons fans in his ear decided to make himself famous. Lesson: be just a bit cuter, Vic. But Ossie, what a header!

Red cards: Just fucking ridiculous. Cole only had eyes for the ball, and it should've been no more than a yellow for dangerous play. A red card for serious foul play HAS to take into account intent – and there was clearly none. Refs also have to know their players and have a feel for the context of the game. A stupid stupid decision.

If it was Nolan or Gerrard it would be a red card all day of course, as they are both vicious thugs with lots of previous – but Cole?? He could have been England's Number 9 for the last 5 years if he had even an ounce of aggression, but he doesn't. Not in him to do someone on purpose.

After that decision, the fucking baldy dwarf prick ("Lee Mason mini-me" was a brilliant observation, whoever said that!!) left himself no choice but to do the same to Gibbo. All watching just knew it was a self-serving and cowardly decision to justify his earlier mistake.

That's what makes us fans sick: honest errors from refs are excusable. (Players and managers make them every week, for fuck's sake, so why should refs be perfect?) It's the "all about me" arrogance mixed with cowardice and self-evident bias that gets the veins sticking out on our heads.

Wake up, PGMOL or it won't be long till you're all out of a job and the EPL hires-in Swedes and German refs. (I pray that happens!) Fair play to the WHU players and crowd who slaughtered the Gibbo decision too.

If only the horrible "Sky Five" clubs and their fans, the PL and most of the radio and TV pundits weren't such whoppers and called these shit refs for what they are, there would still be hope for the game.

Jelavic: Why does he look shattered all the time? Hoped his goal against Spurs would fix his body language, but it's no better. At least he's getting chances now though, and they will start going in... but he needs to be a bit smarter and, dare I say, more selfish: he's wasting so much energy chasing lost causes and by being caught offside way too often that it's damaging his game, meaning he has a negative mindset – this translated yesterday to him displaying the first touch of a fat-fingered proctologist.

He needs to go back to basics and play the width of the box on the shoulder of the slowest CB – get the hell out of the corners and leave space for wingers to do their job and get crosses in, which is what he thrives on. He could also develop the Berbatov 'death stare' and give it to the midfielders when they play lazy out-balls to the corners:. They would soon stop it and the team would benefit.

Anichebe: Again, surprised by the selection, and more so that it was more-or-less two up front. I though he'd be stuck out right Same old body language issues though: falling over, getting 'hurt' too easy, pulling a titty lip at the ref etc... but when he plays back to goal on the edge of the box he looks the part. I think he needs psychological help – to focus that internalised anger onto the game and the opposition; he could become a real player, but it's himself that's stopping him. Terrific header though, from a superb Pienaar cross. But not wise to give the "up yours" to the fans, really?

Finally, MotM: I can't split Osman and Pienaar... both were rightt on form – brilliant feet and vision both. If I have a niggle, it's just that I wish someone could give them a few simple pointers on finishing. If you haven't got a shot like Shearer that can blast through keepers, why not try passing it into the corners like Xavi or Owen – both are more than capable?

All said and done, a great result against fat-head Sam Allosaurus which sets up a Merry Blue Crimbo and a Happy second half of the season.

I just wish that the people who constantly criticize Moyes just look at how he manages a small squad of players and handle missing 2 very influential players in Mirallas and Fellaini. I hope Mirallas recovers quickly from his hamstring problems as his pace opens up sides and also stretches play which gives Osman and Pienaar more time on the ball.

We all raised an eyebrow at selection and formation, but Brian has it right.

1. The blues support was AWESOME. I wanted to jump out of the box (as delicious as the lunch was) and join the stand. There were long periods in the game when the small stand outsang the Hammers crowd – simply brilliant!!

2. At the end of the game, most of our players took their shirts off and distributed amid the crowd. Very nice gesture, even my mates at the box (who are all one-eyed Hammers) acknowledged so.

3. Fair play to the West Ham crowd and support. They love their club as dearly as we do but know a lot about their game. Can't remember the singing or the banter ever getting nasty or out of hand, despite the refereeing travesty.

4. Someone pointed out about the pace of Jarvis earlier. That is absolutely true. Neville would not have coped with Jarvis, that fella is FAST. Jags only *just* managed to defuse him a few times. Moyes's tactics were very good.

5. Our lads don't get enough credit for good football. Some of the interplay between Pienaar, Baines and Osman on the left was champagne (or ole). I got a close-up view of it. This season, we seem to have grown this new spirit where we just don't know when we are beat, a combination of Steel and Style.

6. Can't wait to get to Goodison Park for my own home debut!

Merry Christmas!!

Let me know if you want a regular GP attender to show you around and then join you in the box!

Jelavic miss was worrying. His technique was horrible. Hopefully a one off...

Osman was the star of the show for me. Absolute class and one of his best performances ever.

Did anyone watch the Chelsea game today?

Martin "I must mention Anfield, LFC et al as many times as possible even though they are not involved in the game I'm commentating on" Tyler got on my nerves and the other Neville is still a scouse hating Manc who is beginning to get into the swing of the Sky Sports culture.

I wish we could have had a full strength team to face Chelski next week... ah, well!

Two contenders... the referee obviously and the 1 pound fish market singing bloke from the punjab at half time... WTF was that all about... Sir Bobby would be turning in his grave!!!!

Have written to WHU to try and get me quids back having been gobbed on from the upper tier or at least get them to identify the creature.