Darlington captain Craig Liddle has blamed Southend United's club doctor for the Quakers' 2-0 Roots Hall defeat on Saturday.

The defender missed the last 15 minutes of the first-half, having stitches inserted in a cheek wound, following a clash with Shrimpers hitman Mark Rawle.

Midfield duo Kevin Maher and Neil Jenkins made the most of Blues' numerical advantage during that spell to grab two crucial goals.

And a bitter Liddle blasted the Shrimpers' club doctor for handing Southend what he believed was an unfair advantage.

"This doctor has done us no favours," he said. "He's deliberately taken his time to keep me off until half-time and Southend have scored two goals.

Blues have two club medical specialists, Drs Crowhurst and Sinha. Blues fan Dr Sinha is believed to have treated Liddle, who returned for the second-half, but he was unavailable for comment.

Published Wednesday, April 9, 2003

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