Ipswich draw little comfort but make point

Ipswich felt aggrieved with referee Paul Armstrong after they were denied a goal and a batch of penalty appeals.

Alan Lee appeared to be shoved in the back by Michael Mancienne just before half-time, and the striker claimed he was pushed again by Matthew Connolly on the hour.

By far the most contentious incident, however, was when Velice Sumulikoski's close-range effort was cleared by Connolly.

Ipswich were adamant that the ball had crossed the line and the QPR player had handled.

A point keeps the hosts' play-off hopes alive, though, while the visitors' hopes seem to have ended.

"We didn't have any luck in terms of the decisions," said Ipswich captain Jason De Vos.

"We should have had a penalty in the first half and we scored a legitimate goal in the second. The video shows that, but unfortunately the referee and his assistants don't have the benefit of that during a match so we have to lick our wounds and be happy with the point.

"There's a lot in the press about the abuse of referees. The referee isn't going to change his mind because you're screaming at him. But he's there to do a job and I think video technology would make his job easier."

QPR goalkeeper Lee Camp said: "Matthew admits it hit his hand but said it was ball to hand. It's one for television to sort out and it just shows how a tough a job the referees have."

Huw Turbervill (Daily Telegraph)