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Jim: Players Adamant Ball Hit Hand Over the Line - Ipswich Town News

Boss Jim Magilton said his players were convinced that his side ought to have been awarded at least two penalties during the 0-0 draw with QPR and that Jordan Rhodes's flick which was handled by defender Matthew Connolly had in any case crossed the line.

Magilton said: "I haven't seen it but Schumi, Jason De Vos and Alan Lee have said it was behind the line and that the lad has used his hand to scoop it out. The lads are adamant.

"In any other game, we get penalties, of course we do. In all fairness, I think Schumi should put ball and man in the net. Obviously, it's a stone-waller from his point of view."

Lee also said he was shoved by Michael Mancienne in the lead-up to Gavin Williams missing a golden opportunity just before the break, Magilton feeling the Welshman ought to have netted his first of the season: "Gavin Williams should score from Alan Lee's push. I'm not here to be critical of referees. I love them."

The Town manager was disappointed with the result: "We are at home. We expect to win home games. For me, it's two points dropped.

"It was surprising that the score was goalless at the break. There was one occasion when each side had two chances in the space of two minutes.

"It was end to end and too open for my liking, but for anyone watching it was a great advert for Championship football.

"Credit to QPR, they came and gave us a game and will probably go away happier than we are. Whether that is going to cost us, we will have to wait and see."

QPR boss Luigi de Canio was pleased to get a point against a Town side which impressed him: "This is a really important and valuable point we've achieved today against a team that's possibly the best team we've faced this year in the Championship."

De Canio admitted his side were lucky not to concede a penalty late on, although he was not convinced the ball was already over the line: "It's difficult to judge if the ball crossed the line as the ball was in the air.

"As for the handball, possibly we were a bit fortunate the referee missed it. I have been assured that if the referee had seen it and given a penalty, Lee Camp would have saved it.

"I think it was a good game for both teams. It was just a shame really there were no goals.

"We were missing three or four very important players and people have stepped up and done very well."

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