SOUTHEND United manager Kevin Bond let rip at referee Ross Joyce following this afternoon’s 1-1 draw at Walsall.

Joyce disallowed a Taylor Moore goal on the stroke of half-time before also awarding the Saddlers a hugely controversial penalty deep into stoppage time.

And Bond revealed Joyce he had made a mistake by blowing up for the end of the first half before Moore tucked the ball homes.

“I’ve been in to see the referee and it’s a mistake he accepts,” said Bond.

“He thought the goalkeeper has caught the ball but instead of making sure of it he blew up. “But you should never blow up until the ball is in a neutral area either.

“He also thought it was a foul in the last minute.

“There might have been contact but it’s a not a foul. I’ve seen it again and there’s never enough contact.

“It’s cost us two massive points and we if we don’t stay up I’ll look back on this and he needs to know that.”

The draw leaves the Shrimpers 22nd in the League One standings, two points from safety with just three games to go.

But Bond also acknowledged Blues should have been further ahead before the last gasp drama.

“I can have nothing but praise for the lads because they put in a terrific performance,” said Bond.

“The only thing we may be guilty of is not getting the second goal because we had the chances.

“It turned out we needed a second goal but we wouldn’t have done if the referee had done his job properly.”

Bond also admitted he was unsure if defender John White was shown two yellow cards, as it appeared, without him being sent off.