SMITH BLASTS ROBBIE THE SAVAGE

Savage fell to the ground after a challenge from Danny Higginbotham and referee Graham Barber pointed to the penalty spot to the anger of the Derby players and Jim Smith.

The Leicester midfielder was chased to the corner flag by his furious opponents, who felt Savage had overreacted, and the argument flared up once again in the tunnel after the game.

The 'Bald Eagle' criticised the referee for awarding the penalty, which Muzzy Izzet converted to seal a late victory, and expressed his anger at the 'little dive' by Savage.  

"We've seen players for years and years who are very clever at diving and getting penalties but he (Savage) is not very clever and his penalties become riots," fumed Smith

"He plays like that all the time and it's not something new. We all know and I would have thought the referee would have known that when Mr Savage goes into the box he might take a little dive and that's what he did.

"You can't condone it but it's always the same guy. It happened last week at Ipswich and it happens all the time."

Leicester boss Peter Taylor, undoubtedly relieved after the club's first win of the season, refused to be drawn into a war-of-words over the incident, adding: "It was just a bit of passion from two sets of players.

"It is a passionate game."