Darlington defender Neil Aspin could miss Quakers' home game with Brighton on Saturday.

Aspin was helped off the field with a cut above his left eye midway through the first half at Cardiff on Tuesday night and had to be substituted by youngster Jordan Tait.

Aspin and manager Gary Bennett were annoyed about the challenge from Cardiff striker Kevin Nugent, and both claimed that an elbow was used.

"The referee didn't see it, which is frustrating," said Aspin.

"We both went up for the ball and he elbowed me, no doubt about it.

"As soon as our physio saw me, he told me I wouldn't be able to continue. He took me to the dressing room, and spent 20 minutes putting stitches into the wound."

Aspin sat on the Quakers' bench in the second half and at the final whistle tried to speak to the Cardiff striker. Bennett had already made his feelings clear to Nugent about the challenge just before the second half started and had to be restrained by the fourth official.

"I couldn't get anywhere near him," said Aspin,"because suddenly five stewards appeared from nowhere to stop me. I suppose that might have stopped me from getting into further trouble."

The management team and players were then asked to leave the ground as quickly as possible and Bennett and EchoSport were prevented access to each other in the ground, although contact was made by mobile phone afterwards, when Quakers were looking for food in a nearby supermarket!

Aspin will be examined by the club doctor either today or tomorrow to determine whether he can play against promotion-chasing Brighton.

Aspin was on the field when Quakers conceded an early goal.

"We must start games better," he said. "There's no disguising that we started the game poorly. We got back into the game well and Cardiff were frantic before half-time.

"We had a lot of possession but we didn't threaten them enough..

There was a further blow for Quakers when Stuart Elliott was yesterday handed a four-match ban following his sending off against Kidderminster, his second dismissal of the season following his red card against Plymouth.

Elliott is available this Saturday but then misses the league games against Hull, Halifax and Blackpool and Quakers first match in the FA Cup on November 18.

l Former Darlington assistant manager Ian Butterworth has been appointed assistant manager to Alan Cork at Cardiff.

l Quakers have decided to switch their home reserve games to Feethams from Spennymoor with a Wednesday evening kick off in an attempt to attract bigger crowds. Quakers youth team, which beat Hartlepool on Monday in the FA Youth Cup, is at home to York in the second round on Wednesday, 7.30