DERBY boss Jim Smith yesterday launched a triple retaliatory strike against Middlesbrough as Wednesday's Pride Park cheat row blew up again.

Smith hit back at counterpart Bryan Robson over his claim that Dean Sturridge cheated to set up Derby's second goal in the dramatic 3-3 draw - and pointed a similarly accusing finger at Alen Boksic, Paul Ince and Phil Stamp.

The Rams' manager insisted Boksic cheated to win the penalty which enabled the Croatian ace to hand his side an early lead, and maintained that Ince and Stamp were guilty of gamesmanship as Boro desperately tried to cling on to their advantage in the closing stages.

Sturridge stirred up a storm when he started the move for Derby's second goal as the Rams mounted an astonishing comeback from 3-0 down.

Boro expected him to sportingly return possession after Ince put the ball into touch to allow treatment for teammate Stamp.

But Sturridge, egged on from the touchline by Smith, instead threw the ball to strike partner Deon Burton who went on to win the corner which brought a goal for Branko Strupar.

Substitute Malcolm Christie then struck his second of the game to clinch a point two minutes from time and leave Robson in a rage.

The Boro boss blasted: "Derby cheated and I blame Sturridge and Burton.''

But Sturridge also joined in the argument yesterday, insisting he acted under orders from Smith and accusing Ince and Stamp of cheating.

Former Newcastle boss Smith, who had a spell with Boro as chief coach when Colin Todd was manager, said: "Stamp wasn't injured and Ince was playing for time. I thought we were justified in doing what we did.

"Anyway, I thought Boksic cheated for the penalty - it was a nice dive.''

Sturridge, who has been in Smith's bad books in recent times, added: "Jim was screaming at me to throw the ball to one of our players because Stamp wasn't injured.

"Ince put the ball into touch because they were out on their legs - we thought they were cheating.

"As the opposing side, you normally throw the ball back, but I didn't have time to think and I just did what the boss told me to do. For once, he was happy with me at the end of the game!''

Premiership stars were urged to put sportsmanship first after the clash. Professional Footballers' Association deputy chief executive Brendon Batson insists there are no excuses for not returning the ball to the opposition following an injury stoppage.

Strictly speaking Sturridge and Burton were well within their rights to play on but Batson said: ''Forget the laws. This is about sportsmanship.

''We have done circulars in the past to our members to say that if a player is down injured, irrespective of which side kicks the ball out, the ball should then be thrown back to the other side.

''We don't want to see incidents where that sort of sporting attitude is called into question.''

Rams boss Smith fanned the flames further by insisting Sturridge and Burton were ''justified'' in their actions because Stamp was feigning injury to waste time.

Batson says it is of paramount importance that opposing players accept at face value an injury to one of their colleagues.

''If a player is down injured we should accept they are injured,'' said Batson.

''I would be very disappointed if a team was seen to be using the tactics to which Jim Smith refers, or if either side looked to make capital out of this.''

Batson believed incidents like Wednesday are ''not a major issue'' and do not demand a change of rules.

''A change to the laws of the game would be extremely difficult and would rest with FIFA,'' he said.

''But on the whole this works perfectly well. I go to a lot of games and you see it being done time and time again a team throwing the ball back to the other side.

''It's not a major issue and only if we started to see it happen time and time again would it need to be addressed.''

l Middlesbrough meanwhile are believed to be interested in Nottingham Forest's £5m-rated midfield prodigy David Prutton, who is also a target for Newcastle and Chelsea.

Norwegian starlet Morten Gamst Pedersen is also eyeing a dream move to the Riverside.

The 18-year-old midfielder, who plays for Tromso, is the subject of an approach from Boro who are keen to take him on trial.

He had a similar spell with Wimbledon last season and has a clause in his contract allowing him to join a foreign club.

He said: "I went to Wimbledon and I was left on my own a lot there, but I'm told that at Middlesbrough it's very different. I'm looking forward to making a move to England.''

A Tromso spokesman said: "Middlesbrough have enquired about taking Morten on trial.

"It's out of the question to let him go now because we need him, but if he wants to go later we can work something out.'