FURIOUS Steve Parkin hit out at Northampton midfielder Chris Hargreaves and referee Ray Olivier after seeing influential captain Gary Jones controversially dismissed at Sixfields on Saturday.

The pony-tailed Cobblers player was lucky to escape with a caution for a shocking challenge that could have seriously hurt the Dale skipper just weeks after his return from injury.

The fact Olivier booked Jones for what looked a reasonable reaction, and then dismissed him following a far tamer tackle minutes later, really rubbed salt in the wound for the Rochdale boss.

“I watched the video and it was a horrendous tackle on Gary Jones,” he said. “The ball was about three yards away and it was one of those where Hargreaves could have broken his leg if he’d caught him right."

“Gary’s reaction was understandable when someone had tried to cripple him. He didn’t punch or head butt anyone and I don’t know what the referee expected him to do.”

Parkin confirmed he had spoken to the official to see if he would change his mind after watching the incidents again on video.

Olivier had a nightmare afternoon and his catalogue of errors were stacked firmly against the visitors. Town keeper Chris Harper went unpunished for handling outside his area and the corner from which Northampton scored their second goal should never have been given.

Worst of all, Olivier blew for half-time before normal time had elapsed - never mind the two minutes extra signalled by his fourth official. With the stadium clock still ticking, he was greeted with a barrage of booing and perplexed expressions from both sets of players.

That error, according to Parkin, proved crucial. “The ref forgot to put the minutes up at the end of the first half. The Northampton crowd were understandably very unhappy and that added to the pressure on him."

“It was a question of whether he could hold his nerve and I’m sure it’s the opinion of many people he didn’t,” he said.

Dale looked good value for their lead at the break, withstanding some early pressure before Kevin Townson scored his 12th of the season on 32 minutes.

“It was a game we were well in,” said Parkin. “We scored a good goal and I thought we weathered a bit of a storm in the first 10 minutes of the second half. We looked as though we were going to take control of the game.”

“The disappointing thing for me is I said to the players at half time we’ve got to stay on our feet and keep our discipline because of what had happened at the end of the first half. The second half was always going to be a tricky period and it proved so.”