REFEREE Steve Blunt came under fire from angry Darlington manager Steve Staunton following Saturday’s occasionally tempestuous match at Barnet.

Defender Ian Miller was left unconscious midway through the first half following a heavy-handed challenge by Barnet striker Paul Furlong in the Darlington goalmouth.

The incident instigated a series of rash challenges from both teams, with Barnet believing Darlington debutant James Collins should have been sent off following an aerial challenge with the Bees’ Gary Breen.

And in the second half Micah Hyde was fortunate to receive only a yellow card for a very late sliding tackle on Quakers’ Jamie Chandler.

“I thought the referee could have nailed the whole thing from the off,” said Staunton.

“There was a bad tackle early on on David Davis and from then on I thought anything could happen. The referee could have stamped things out from the beginning, but he didn’t.

“It’s up to the referee to manage the game.”

Miller recovered enough to take his place in the dug-out during the second half.

While he was being treated by medical staff, Collins clashed with Breen, a former Republic of Ireland teammate of Staunton’s, leaving blood pouring from a head wound.

The Darlington manager explained: “James went up and used his arm for leverage.

With Gary coming across, James caught him and that happens in football.”