CRAIG HIGNETT admits he was stunned by the performance of referee Gavin Ward on Saturday.

Pools were denied a win by Ward’s decision to award a late Plymouth penalty, before the Surrey official then sent Hignett to the stands for the closing six minutes and then sent off Pools’ defender Scott Harrison in injury time.

The Pools camp were incensed by the performance of Ward in the closing minutes and Hignett admitted: “We defended really well, done enough to see it out, but that was 15 minutes I’ve never seen before on a football field.

“It was frightening. You saw it, I can say he lost control because he did lose control. I don’t know what he was booking players for, I don’t know what the explanations were, and to cap it all the penalty was laughable and Toto kicks the ball quite clearly.

“Referees make a rod for their own back and I don’t condone players going for him at every decision and having a go at time, but when it descents like they are frustrated that I understand it.’’

Pools’ players were led away from Ward at the final whistle by skipper Billy Paytner and Hignett, who was moved from the empty terracing behind the dug outs by an over-zealous steward before briefly taking a seat in the directors’ box late on, said: “Billy, full marks to him for doing that, he’s an experienced players. We miss Scotty now through suspension and that’s a problem with the injuries we have got.’’

Pools were given six yellow cards – two to Harrison – and Hignett added: “Harrison was sent off for kicking the ball away apparently. He (referee) was desperate to do something. I don’t know, some decisions were…

“I get fed up hearing my own voice talking to the fourth officials. They are under massive pressure because of what is going on on the pitch and he couldn’t answer anything because he didn’t know.’’