Neil Warnock said he ‘wasn’t even bothered about the result’ following the incident that left Dael Fry requiring stitches to a facial injury.

Warnock was furious his side weren’t awarded a penalty, and that Jarrad Branthwaite wasn’t sent off, after the Boro defender was forced off with a wound under his high after being caught by a high boot in the area.

The Boro boss took issue with Branthwaite at the final whistle, but said in his post-match press conference he didn’t think it was an intentional challenge, instead focusing on referee Dean Whitestone and his assistant.

“It’s the game-changing incident, isn’t it? After that, I wasn’t even bothered about the result, after I saw the mess his face was in,” Warnock said.

"That’s not why we’re in the game, that. I don’t think the lad meant to do it, but they’ve just read me the rules out – endangering the safety of a player. Well, it can’t be any worse than that.

"He’s a millimetre away from having his eyeball taken out. We miss out in all ends – we don’t get a penalty, we don’t get a sending off and we have one of our best players carried off. It’s an absolute bloody joke and I’m absolutely distraught.

“They’ve got to clear the blood and everything away, but the doctor has just said he’s a millimetre from his eyeball being taken out.”

The incident came from a 16th minute Paddy McNair cross, with the Boro players screaming for a penalty as Fry went down and later received treatment.

He was unable to continue, with the incident overshadowing the first half that lacked any quality or clear-cut chances.

"How can you not see it? I’ve looked at the pictures and the referee has nobody in his line – so what’s the reason why he’s not seen it? I don’t understand it,” Warnock continued.

“For me, that’s elementary. We deserve better. The linesman should see it as well.

“It's almost as they didn't see it.

“I asked why they didn’t see it. I don’t know what he said, if I’m honest (at half-time). What do they say? They go in there for an hour and come out with a different story.

“I don’t think I’ve been as low as this since Chelsea scored with about three minutes to go at Cardiff. And we didn’t have VAR then either. You just expect people to do their job, and they’re not doing their job."

Rovers won the game courtesy of a Joe Rothwell goal midway through the second half and from that point on were much the better side.

A fine Thomas Kaminski save denied Jonny Howson moments before, with Nathan Wood’s follow-up coming back off the post.

And despite falling to successive home defeats, Warnock said he couldn’t fault his players.

He added: “I just said to them thanks for the effort, you couldn't have put anymore in.

“We could have scored goals but I can't blame them for what happened on the pitch.

“I don't think we've lost the game, we would have won the game if the officials do their job.

“We're supposed to have officials that are good enough. Everyone in the stadium saw it, it was so obvious.

“I'd rather be in Tony's (Mowbray) boat, he was complaining about a throw-in, I said I'd rather have that go against me than a sending off and a penalty.

“He'll be over the moon about that, to come away with three points and 11 men. He's won the pools, he should do the lottery.

“They've gone away with three points. Not in a million years should they have had three points. It leaves a bitter taste in your mouth.”