GUY IPOUA today faced the fury of player-manager Andy Hessenthaler after Saturday’s petulant response to being substituted during Gillingham’s 1-1 draw at Derby.

The striker made no secret of his anger as he threw his gloves at the bench before storming off.

Ipoua had earlier given Gillingham a 57th minute lead with his second goal in five days. As soon as the ball hit the back of the net he dashed to the bench as if to make a point after recently losing his place to Rod Wallace. Fourteen minutes later he was replaced by Mamady Sidibe.

Hessenthaler, who will demand an explanation for Ipoua’s behaviour, did not mince words afterwards. He said: “It was embarrassing and Guy embarrassed himself. I certainly wasn't pleased with his reaction because there is no need for that which I shall tell him.

“Nobody likes being taken off, especially when you've just scored a goal. But when you've an opportunity to bring on another striker like Mamady Sidibe you take it.

“He gave us the benefit of fresh legs which we needed at that stage.”

Last season striker Marlon King was given a dressing down by Hessenthaler for showing dissent in a home game after being substituted.

A contrite Ipoua said: “I was disappointed at being withdrawn. I train to play for 90 minutes and want to play for 90 minutes.

“I thought I had done enough to play the 90 minutes that's why I was disappointed."

Although Gillingham took their unbeaten run to seven games with Saturday’s point on the club’s first appearance at Pride Park, Hessenthaler confessed disappointment.

“I'm not satisfied with a point because I believe we should have won,” he said.

“In the last 10 minutes we created some fantastic chances and should have won the game.

“I would have taken a point before the game and though I'm happy enough with a point, it's tinged with disappointment.

“On another day Marlon King could have had two or three goals. The lad was distraught after the game, we can't talk to him, he’s that way.

“I've told him that it's just one of those things. But at least he’s there when we're creating chances. Had he scored from the chance to make it 2-0 we would have gone on and won the game.”

Of Derby's controversial penalty award, which resulted in a caution for skipper Paul Smith, the Gills boss added: "It didn't surprise me. There had been a couple of shouts early on and so far as I was concerned, the referee buckled under the pressure.

“But it shows how far we've come because here we are at Derby saying we're disappointed with a point.”