DANNY MILLS was last night branded "an idiot" by Paul Ince as the threat of FA disciplinary action hung over the irascible Middlesbrough defender.

Furious Wolverhampton Wanderers captain Ince, who made his first return to the Riverside on Saturday, accused Mills of looking for a fight during the highly-charged Premiership encounter.

The FA are poised to take action against Middlesbrough and Wolves, with referee Steve Dunn confirming he would mention the post-match flare-up in the tunnel in his match report.

But Mills could also feel the full might of the FA come down upon him after he played a significant role in at least three controversial incidents during and after the game.

Although Wolves manager Dave Jones refused to name any individuals he felt acted improperly, Ince let fly with an amazing rant at Mills.

Ince blasted: "Danny Mills is just an idiot. He was trying to have a fight and in my book that's out of order."

Mills and Lee Naylor first clashed in the 15th minute, when the Wolves defender fell to the turf clutching his face. But it was their contretemps after 73 minutes that enraged Wolves and, coming four days before Bonfire Night, lit the blue touch paper and triggered fireworks.

Mills aggressively hurled the ball into the ground and confronted Naylor after the England international had been fouled.

As Ince tried to separate the pair, Juninho took a quick free-kick and Gaizka Mendieta scored with a fantastic 30-yard drive.

Mills goaded Naylor by celebrating in front of him - an act that earned him a booking - and a melee ensued as players from both sides again attempted to keep them apart.

Ince said: "I don't want to go on about Mills except to say he winds other players up all the time; he's known for it.

"The free-kick was a disgrace. It shouldn't have been allowed to be taken, it's as simple as that.

"Mills chucked down the ball and was walking towards our player. I went over there with a few other players, but for some reason the ref let the game carry on. In my view that's bad refereeing because we worked so hard to get something here and it was like a kick in the balls. I can't understand what the referee was on."

Television pictures showed Mills was well away from the epicentre of the tunnel fracas that Jones said he was "in the middle of".

But it is understood that the cause of the trouble was Wolves players trying to vent their anger at the 26-year-old, on loan to Middlesbrough from Leeds United. Jones said: "There are certain individuals that need to take a look at themselves. You don't get a reaction as bad as that from the players unless something has gone on."

Referring to the sending off of Alex Rae, who picked up two bookings for challenges on Mills, Jones added: "There were things that went on out there and I think Alex was trying to take a bit of something back."

Steve McClaren was as succinct as Jones was loquacious when discussing Mills's involvement in the game's key issues and the Middlesbrough manager certainly did himself no favours when he made light of the events that led to the first goal.

He said: "I hate to sound like Arsene Wenger, but I didn't see the incident. All I saw was the ball hitting the back of the net.

"And I don't know what happened in the tunnel. I was busy having a bottle of water in my office."

McClaren defended Mills after the game, but he accepts the defender's disciplinary record is far from impeccable.

Mills will be suspended for the Premiership clash with Liverpool on November 22 after he picked up his fifth yellow card in just nine games on Saturday.

That prompted McClaren to say: "Danny can't keep getting booked, but sometimes you have to live with all sides of what a player offers you.

"He's wholehearted and fully committed, and commitment and attitude are his strengths.

"Discipline is one of the biggest things we look at. A lack of discipline cost Franck Queudrue the first five games of this season.

"We're always going on at our players about having discipline in their performance and about their behaviour.

"We'll be dealing with Danny's five bookings internally, but we're absolutely delighted with him."

Boudewijn Zenden confessed Wolves had every right to be angry with the circumstances that surrounded the first goal. He said: "Players were still discussing things and yes, I was a bit surprised that the goal was allowed.

"I understand what Wolves are saying, and if we were in their position I'm sure we'd be complaining.

"We took advantage of the scrummage, but that's what you've got to do."

The contents of Dunn's match report will determine whether Mills, the two clubs or any players or officials will face a disciplinary rap.

An FA spokesman told Northern Echo SPORT: "We are waiting for the referee's report. When we receive it, we will decide what action to take, if any."

Middlesbrough flattered to deceive before Mendieta scored in the 73rd minute, but from then on the three points always looked safe. Juninho put the game beyond doubt seven minutes from time when he sidefooted a second.