DAN Gosling called on Jonathan Moss to “come out and apologise”, claiming the referee showed Cherries players “zero respect” during their defeat at Bramall Lane.

The midfielder, 30, also labelled the official’s display on Sunday as a “disgrace”, alleging Moss had mocked him and his team-mates for their recent struggles as they went down 2-1 to high-flying Sheffield United.

Cherries led at Bramall Lane through an early Callum Wilson strike, but were pegged back just before half-time when Billy Sharp pounced to notch his second goal of the campaign against Eddie Howe’s men.

And the visitors were dealt a sucker punch with six minutes to play as substitutes Lys Mousset and John Lundstram combined, with the latter turning in from close-range.

Defeat left Cherries 16th in the Premier League table, two points outside the bottom three having played a game more than three of the four sides below them in the standings.

Speaking to the Daily Echo, an angry Gosling said: “The ref didn’t help. Giving soft fouls away and little comments to two or three of the lads didn’t help as well really.

“I thought it was very disrespectful what he was saying.

“It was just the little niggly ones and then the little sarky comments.

“The officials talk about respect at the start of the season and there was zero respect from Jon Moss on Sunday.

“I thought he was a disgrace. The comments that he made especially to me and one other player – talking about the relegation zone and ‘you’re still in the relegation zone’, ‘you’re having one’, ‘your team’s having one’ this and that and it was very, very disrespectful.”

Asked if these alleged comments were made whilst the match was ongoing, Gosling added: “During the game, yeah.

“I think he should really come out and apologise because I thought he was a disgrace.”

Sunday was the first time Moss had taken charge of a Cherries fixture all season.

The Daily Echo understands Cherries are in continued dialogue with the Premier League over the alleged comments from Moss.

The body in charge of officiating in the league, the PGMOL, declined to comment.