Wayne Rooney was left fuming by referee Stephen Martin missing what he felt was ‘the most clear penalty you would ever see’ in stoppage time.

Penalty appeals were waved away, before the final whistle soon followed, as the visitors screamed for a spot-kick as Festy Ebosele went down under the challenge of Ryan Nyambe in the box.

The winger chopped the ball back, Nyambe sliding to block what he thought would be a cross, and Rooney felt the trailing leg of the Rovers defender brought down Ebosele as his side went in search of a late equaliser.

However, referee Martin was unmoved, and defeat for the Rams leaves them in a perilous position at the bottom of the Championship table.

"I've seen the replay, I think it's the most clear penalty you would ever see," Rooney said in his post-match press conference.

"I didn't need to see a replay. From where I was stood, and the fourth official was stood right behind me, the referee has got a great view of it and it's completely unacceptable to not give a penalty.

"I know it's a tough job, I respect that. They will get decisions wrong at times but this one is completely unacceptable.

"If my players don't play well and don't have a good game, I'll deal with it. I'll take action and deal with it. I don't really want to go this route but action has to be taken because that is unacceptable.”

Derby had led in the first half courtesy of a Tom Lawrence header and were good value for it at that time. But Rovers went in level at the break as Sam Gallagher headed home a Barry Douglas corner before an open second half.

While the visitors started the stronger, Rovers began to take charge, Adam Armstrong denied three times by David Marshall, before the ‘keeper was beaten midway through the half, Harvey Elliott’s shot having too much power for the Scot as the ball burst through his hands and into the net.

Colin Kazim-Richards went close to an equaliser as his header was kept out by Thomas Kaminski who also did well to keep out an inswinging Nathan Byrne corner. But it was the penalty appeal that remained on the mind of Rooney post-match.

He added: "I've asked to speak to the referee calmly. I'm not going to barge in shouting and have a rant. All I wanted was an explanation on why he can't see it as a penalty.

"Even the fourth official knew it was a penalty. But once again, he's not prepared to open his mouth and tell the referee. He didn't tell me that it was a penalty, I'm just a good judge of knowing people are thinking and I knew the fourth official truly believed it was a penalty."