The Simon Garner column

CHELSEA Football Club have dominated the headlines this week but for all the wrong reasons after news of Adrian Mutu's drug-taking shame hit the national Press.

But rather than tar and feather the Romanian, shouldn't we be looking at ways of trying to help a player with a serious drugs problem?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not condoning the taking of drugs in any shape or form and what Mutu has done is very, very wrong.

But should we be hanging a bloke out to dry at a time when he clearly needs help if he's to fight his demons?

I can honestly say I never came across any footballer using drugs in the days when I was a player.

Of course, you had players who liked a drink and a ciggy - and I count myself among them - but I don't ever recall hearing of anyone getting involved in the drug scene.

These days, though, it seems to be far more common, maybe because young players have more money in their pockets and there's a greater temptation to be led off the straight and narrow.

I know the Academies do a great job of educating young players in regard to the dangers of drugs but perhaps the game could do even more to stop people going the say way as Mutu.

What he needs now is help more than punishment.

In the meantime, the focus returns to matters on the pitch tomorrow as Rovers aim to put a dent in Chelsea's title aspirations.

Few people outside of Blackburn are giving them a chance of getting a result at Stamford Bridge, even though they haven't lost there in their last 12 visits.

But if Rovers score first then they might have a chance.

They certainly can't afford to sit back and let Chelsea take the game to them.

Jose Mourinho's side give very little away and once they go 1-0 up that tends to be game over.