IPSWICH Town skipper Jason De Vos accused Derby County manager Billy Davies of influencing referee Ray Lee at Pride Park last night.“The referee told me at the start of the second half that the home manager had had a word with him at the interval over the disallowed Derby goal in the first period,” said a downhearted De Vos.

By Elvin King

IPSWICH Town skipper Jason De Vos accused Derby County manager Billy Davies of influencing referee Ray Lee at Pride Park last night.

“The referee told me at the start of the second half that the home manager had had a word with him at the interval over the disallowed Derby goal in the first period,” said a downhearted De Vos.

“That was an obvious foul with Steve Howard pushing me in the back.

“When Steve equalised he also pushed me in the back, and the match official chose to ignore the foul this time.

“It was not as blatant as the first offence, but still knocked me away from challenging for the corner.

“It is a physical game, but if I had done a similar thing it would have been a penalty.”

Mr Lee from Brentwood was also criticised by De Vos for failing to send off Michael Johnson.

“Alan Lee was mugged for most of the game,” added the Canadian international.

“How Johnson could stay on the field after a heavy tackle from behind on Alan after being booked I do not know.

“Cards are starting to hurt us now, and we are being penalised by over-fussy referees.

“We are grown men, and there was not one tackle that was malicious. Referees should let us get on with it and there would be no more trouble - probably quite a lot less.

“But I don't think we can have any complaints about Simon Walton's dismissal.”

De Vos explained the depth of despair in the Town camp.

He continued: “It is a devastating blow to our morale to concede yet another late decisive goal.

“It is sickening and we must learn to die for the cause right to the final whistle.

“There is no getting away from the fact that we have given away three bad goals in the final seconds of our last three away matches.

“We played better than Derby and they did not hurt us even after we went down to ten men.”

Alex Bruce, who played at right back, added: “We are all as low as a snake's belly.

“We played well, but teams will punish you for errors.

“The referee was a joke and must take responsibility for his performance.”