SKIPPER Tommy Elphick said he had “no complaints” with referee Phil Gibbs after the official had ruled out what would have been a deserved winner for Cherries.

Gibbs took centre stage when he penalised Elphick for a foul on Dean Gerken after the Ipswich goalkeeper had spilled a Matt Ritchie cross into the net.

The incident came towards the end of a pulsating clash and with the teams locked at 1-1 after Brett Pitman had struck to cancel out Daryl Murphy’s opener for the visitors.

A good number of Cherries supporters among a highest crowd of the season at Dean Court were convinced Ritchie’s effort had given Eddie Howe’s men the points.

But Elphick told the Daily Echo: “I put my hand on his shoulder and I think I affected him because he ended up putting the ball in the back of the net so the referee got it right.

“I thought the referee had a good game. He talks to players, gets involved and stands by his decisions and that is all you can ask. He is consistent and, if it had happened at the other end, you hope he would have given us a foul. I thought it was a free-kick and a fair decision.”

Cherries created and squandered a series of presentable chances before Ipswich broke the deadlock when Murphy converted a Frank Nouble cross midway through the second half.

However, the introduction of Pitman and Marc Pugh from the bench paid dividends with the pair in the thick of the action as the Jerseyman restored parity.

Elphick added: “We were disappointed not to take all three points but there were a lot of positives. When you see the opposition high-fiving each other at the final whistle because they think they have had a good day, you have to give us a lot of credit.

“We put on another great display and the tempo after playing three days ago was frightening. Credit has to go to the physios, fitness coaches and sports scientists who have prepared us for this period.

“We were fresh and could have been two or three up at half-time. We had some great chances but, when you don’t take them, you are always going to leave yourself vulnerable with players like David McGoldrick, Frank Nouble and Daryl Murphy.

“We were unfortunate to go behind and it was a bit of a sucker-punch because we felt we were on top. It was another learning curve. A few weeks ago, we might not have got back into the game but we did today and nearly stole the points at the end.”