Darlington manager Dave Penney slammed the performance of referee Rob Lewis as his side fell to a 3-1 defeat against Rochdale at Spotland.The visitors were stung by three first-half goals from Joe Thompson, Glenn Murray and an Adam Le Fondre penalty and though they managed a second-half penalty of their own, converted by Clark Keltie, they left themselves with too much to do.

Penney said: "The referee awarded two penalties, neither of which should have been awarded, and if the one he gave to Rochdale in the first half was genuine, then Ian Miller should have been sent off.

"It's very frustrating. Here we are again after a game of football and all we're talking about is referees.

"It was difficult for the players, they were boiling over and when you are getting hard done by like that, it's hard to take. That said we've got to defend better than we did away from home."

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