Derby County manager Steve McClaren blasts "diabolical" refereeing at Millwall

Derby County manager Steve McClaren has described the two penalties that were awarded against his side during yesterday's 3-3 draw with Millwall as "diabolical".

Two of Lee Gregory's hat-trick for the Lions came from the spot, with Derby penalised for a handball by Richard Keogh and infringement at a corner by Jeff Hendrick.

Derby were twice behind by two goals at The Den, but fought back for a point thanks to Hendrick's late leveller.

After the game, McClaren expressed his disappointment with the performance of referee David Coote.

"They were two diabolical penalties," he said. "I can't understand them.

"I don't know what the referee is doing to give decisions like he's doing. It gave us a mountain to climb again - and the players keep doing it. What fantastic character.

"They could have very easily got frustrated and angry with the referee's decisions but they stuck together and there was a determination to come back and kick on, which we did."

Despite the point, Derby dropped to sixth in the table and know that they have to beat Reading on the final day of the season next Saturday to guarantee a place in the Championship playoffs.