GRAEME Souness is likely to get hauled over the coals when he keeps a long-standing appointment with the Football Association later this week.

The Blackburn boss has requested a personal hearing to answer the latest in a line of misconduct charges which, ironically, relates back to an incident that took place during the last meeting between Rovers and Spurs on November 29 last year.

But if the FA panel think a quick slap on the wrist and a possible touchline ban will be enough to curb Souness's unquenchable passion for the game then they are sadly deluded.

One incident in the second half at White Hart Lane on Saturday perfectly illustrated exactly why Souness's hunger and desire still burns brighter than arguably any of his managerial counterparts in the Premiership.

Rovers were trailing 1-0 to a wonderful goal from Jermain Defoe when Paul Gallagher suddenly conjured up a teasing cross for Andy Cole in the 81st minute.

As Cole moved in for the kill at the near post, his shirt was almost wrenched off his back by an over-zealous Spurs defender and the former England striker's header flew wide of the post.

From where I was sitting, it looked like a 'stone-wall' penalty but the referee, Andy D'Urso, and his two assistants failed to spot it, prompting Souness into a fit of pique on the touchline.

For what felt like several minutes, he angrily remonstrated with the fourth official in his technical area, at one point even re-enacting the incident to emphasise his point.

It's a sight regular Blackburn followers have seen on many occasions during a season that's been remarkable for the fact Rovers have yet to be awarded a single penalty.

And in this instance, Souness appeared to have a strong case as Cole was clearly infringed as he homed in on a possible equaliser.

Souness's actions looked strangely out of place in a game that otherwise had a distinctly end-of-season feel about it.

With both sides safe from the threat of relegation, several players had already slipped into holiday mode.

But as long as there's pride and Premiership points at stake then Souness will always be up for a fight, particularly when he has reason to feel aggrieved.

"I'm a professional football manager and I expect to be treated fairly," said the Rovers boss, as he reflected on his sense of injustice.

"That's all you ask for in this game and obviously frustration comes into play when you're not winning.

"We haven't had a penalty all season and we won't get one next week.

"But I don't want to start talking about referees because there's no mileage in it for me.

"I'm down at the FA on Thursday so perhaps I might get a chance to mention it then."

After four straight wins on the bounce, it was disappointing to see Rovers' mini-revival grind to a halt so frustratingly.

From Spurs' point of view, the match-winning goal was a brilliant strike from Defoe, the game's outstanding performer.

But Souness saw it rather differently and he later chastised his defenders for allowing the England striker to race through the centre unchecked before unleashing an unstoppable 20-yard volley that fairly exploded past Peter Enckelman, who had an eventful debut.

In many ways, that goal was indicative of Rovers' season and it perhaps illustrated why Nissa Johansson has yet to cement a regular starting place in this team almost three years after signing from Nuremberg.

Last week, the Swedish international was almost flawless against Manchester United as Rovers kept a third successive clean sheet.

But then he showed his fallibility here when he got the wrong side of Defoe and the former West Ham striker doled out the maximum punishment to leave Rovers playing catch up.

Johansson, like many of his team-mates, will have much to prove next season.

Souness has already promised to ring the changes in the summer and several players will be looking anxiously over their shoulders, knowing they can't afford another campaign like the one they've just had.

The recruitment of a genuine left-sided midfield player must be the top priority.

In recent weeks, Souness's switch to a narrow midfield has paid handsome dividends but it was only ever meant to be a temporary measure.

Long term, Rovers must become more dynamic going forward and that means finding a player who can unlock defences with a killer pass or a piece of trickery.

That won't be easy, of course, but Souness must scour Europe until he finds the missing link.

As for the game, Spurs just about deserved their half-time lead after narrowly shading an open first half.

Enckelman was forced into an early save from the lively Robbie Keane then Michael Brown headed wide before Defoe broke the deadlock in breathtaking style in the 18th minute.

Ledley King launched a long ball down the centre and as Johansson hesitated, Defoe nipped in to crack an unstoppable shot past Enckelman.

On that kind of evidence, the 21-year-old should be a must in Sven Goran Eriksson's England squad for Euro 2004.

After that, Rovers began to attack with more verve and only a brave block from Kasey Keller denied Jonathan Stead.

Stead then went close with an instinctive snap-shot and a Cole header sailed wide before Enckelman denied Keane again with another sharp save on the stroke of half-time.

Rovers emerged for the second half with all guns blazing and they really should have equalised within four minutes of the re-start.

The industrious Cole forced Anthony Gardner into an error on the edge of his own box and the ball broke kindly for Stead, who only had Keller to beat.

Given the way the former Huddersfield striker has greedily devoured his chances of late, everyone looked to the back of the net expecting to see it bulge but, on this occasion, Stead got his angles wrong and his shot drifted wide.

So he is human, after all.

Moments later, Stead got in again but this time he was foiled by the out-rushing Keller.

Then Jonathon Douglas headed over from a Tugay corner when it looked easier to score.

Spurs created a couple of late chances for Keane and Christian Ziege before Enckelman excelled again with a brilliant save to deny Defoe.

But Rovers, and Souness, finally realised it was not to be their day when Cole's appeal for a penalty was turned down flat.

Another case of 'if only'.

ROVERS 0

SPURS 1

Defoe 18