David Kelly was the key in Darlington's defeat on Saturday as he scored twice and was consistently instrumental in Mansfield's best attacks.

But it's fair to say his tumble under the challenge of Adam Reed when earning his side a penalty was a touch over the top, and Kelly admitted so afterwards.

Maddison was also aggrieved with the official who failed to call offside as Mansfield notched their fourth goal, while the former Middlesbrough midfielder says Kevin Pilkington should have been given his marching orders.

Maddison, fielded out of position at right-back, said: "We let ourselves down with our defending but I don't think it was a penalty in the first half.

"Even Kelly said to me afterwards that, because he's a forward, and even though Reed never touched him, he's bound to go down.

"I can't say I agree with him but what can you do? "The linesman on one side had a torrid game. We'd just got back into the game at 3-2 and then from a corner they flicked it on to the far post where their lad is stood on the line and he's offside, so I'm dissappointed.

"Sheeran got a goal and we thought, right we're getting back into the game, and then they get a goal through a sloppy decision from the linesman.

"Second half we matched them, put them under a bit of pressure and created some chances. I've seen people sent off for what their keeper did, there's just no consistency in the game. Things are going on which should be carded."

Maddison was brought in as one of two changes to the side which lost at home to Cheltenham in midweek as Paul Campbell replaced groin strain victim Mark Ford, and Maddison didn't look out of place at right-back while striker Ian Clark performed well at left-back.

Maddison said: "We've had a makeshift side, we've got a lot of players out through injury and the lads have battled away and I thought we deserved something after the second half, but because of sloppy officials we haven't got what we deserved.

"First half I struggled a bit with their winger, but in the second half I felt comfortable. We got the ball down and passed it around.

The unnamed central-defender, on trial from Sunderland last week, has been sent back to the Stadium of Light after failing to impress.

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