Craig Beattie is brought down by Doncaster's Sam Hird on Sunday

Craig Beattie says the standard of refereeing needs improving after being denied a last-minute penalty that could have sent Swansea into the play-offs.

The Swans would have climbed into the top six at the expense of Blackpool had they beaten Doncaster on Sunday.

But referee Grant Hegley turned down the striker's penalty shout meaning the game finished 0-0.

"There's too much at stake for clubs and players for people to be getting decisions like that wrong," he said.

"It was a stonewall penalty.

"The ball's come over the top, it's coming in at a flat angle, I'm getting my foot on it and the boy's taken me down.

"He's turned, he's not meant it, it's nothing intentional but I don't care it's a stonewall penalty.

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"I don't know where the contact was but I'm in on goal, I'm getting a foot on it with just the keeper to beat and I'm not going down for no reason.

"The contact is there and it's a penalty kick."

Swansea missed out on the Championship play-offs by a point to Blackpool who were held by Bristol City after ending the season on a run of three wins in 13.

Club-record signing Beattie came off the bench with 20 minutes of the final game of the season to go.

And he was involved in the last-minute flash-point after appearing to be bundled over by Sam Hird.

"I don't know if the referee bottled it but I can assure you he got it wrong," added the Scot.

"It's happened on more than one occasion this year and it's cost us.

"I don't really want to stand here and say the referees have cost us but I could tell you five off the top of my head where they have cost us late in games.

"It's not good enough. It's got to improve."

Beattie added: "I've been in to see the referee, I've explained what happened and he's told me the view he had, the bodies came together and it's not a penalty.

"I've asked him to have a look at it and let's see if he is big enough to.

"I know there's a disappointed group of players in there."

Beattie, who joined in August for an initial £500,000 fee from West Bromwich Albion, has scored three goals in an injury-hit season.

And he would like to see television replays be introduced, but is unconvinced it will happen.

"I'm not going to give my views on TV replays because they aren't going to listen to Championship players, but the answer is yes," he said.

"If you look at the replay, it's a penalty kick and we could be in the play-offs."

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