IPSWICH Town manager Joe Royle was left seething after the referee denied his team the chance to go within touching distance of a First Division play-off place.

By Elvin King

IPSWICH Town manager Joe Royle was left seething after the referee denied his team the chance to go within touching distance of a First Division play-off place.

After seeing his side draw 1-1 against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane last night Royle said: “I am bitterly disappointed that we were not given two penalty decisions that looked obvious to everybody in the ground apart from the match officials.

“And the second one when Chris Morgan poked the ball away from Darren Bent with his hand in the dying seconds was right in front of the assistant referee.

“Jermaine Wright had a shot in the first half that Morgan deflected over the bar when he raised his arm and we have to feel unhappy at the referee for both those decisions.

“On the other hand Sheffield were given a penalty and although Fabian Wilnis admits that he touched their player the dive was no surprise with Sheffield players falling like autumn leaves every time they are tackled.

“It was a disappointment to go behind but we then had our best spell and I fully expected us to score.

“Ian Westlake had a better chance in the first-half when he shot over, following a pass from Matt Richards, Ian drove his second chance into the net in style.

“If we win our final game against Cardiff, and it will not be easy against a good side, then we will be in the top six.

“It may be a nervy week for us but it is still in our own hands and we are confident.

“I have to be happy with a draw on a day when we were not at our best. It was windy out there and we can play much better.

“This is a hard place to come and get a result and I don't think there is any doubt that we deserved a draw. We defended very well but up front it proved a bit too much for our two young kids in the first half.

“They were over-powered by the home defence and when Richard Naylor came on the ball began to stick in attack as he used his physical presence to good effect.”

Sheffield United manager Neil Warnock admitted that his team are now out of the hunt for a promotion place.

And he added: “Kelvin Davis made two world class saves to earn Ipswich their point. They have got one or two technically better players and a lot of quality.

“If you let Ipswich play they can be the best team in the first division. It will be interesting in the last weekend of the season but after this result we are out of the equation.”