ALAN Lee revealed that he was being sledged by Burnley players while waiting for what seemed like an age before converting Ipswich Town's 90th minute penalty equaliser at home to Burnley on Saturday.

By Elvin King

ALAN Lee revealed that he was being sledged by Burnley players while waiting for what seemed like an age before converting Ipswich Town's 90th minute penalty equaliser at home to Burnley on Saturday.

By the time the referee had booked offender Gifton Noel-Williams and spoken to the fourth official about stoppage time several minutes had passed. Then an assistant referee got in on the act to have a word with keeper Danny Coyne who was prancing up and down on the goal line.

“I don't know why the referee went across to the fourth official,” said Lee. “It was a strange time to do that.

“Some of the Burnley players were sledging me a little bit, but I would have done the same thing.

“I wasn't nervous. With penalties you just focus on the ball and block out all other things.

“Danny Haynes grabbed the ball, but I felt it was my place to take the penalty - and he agreed.

“I did not see the handball, but have been told it was a sure-fire penalty.”

Lee had earlier missed the target when clean through. And he blamed the bobbly state of the Portman Road playing surface.

Lee said: “We all know the problems with the pitch. The ball bobbled and hit my shin.

“We played well in both halves and I am feeling fit and strong. I felt I had one of my best games on Wednesday at Derby.”

Burnley boss Steve Cotterill didn't think Town should have been awarded the penalty.

He said: “I don't begrudge Ipswich a late goal because they have been on the end of a few recently. I just begrudge it happened against us.

“I didn't think that it was a corner in the first place.

“Gifton Noel-Williams tells me he was pushed. I don't think he'd gone out to handle purposely.

“Crowds and players can help make up a referee's mind and Ipswich were in the ascendancy at that period.”