BLACKBURN striker Marcus Bent today pleaded his innocence after seeing red in a stormy finish to last night's Worthington Cup victory over Oldham Athletic at Ewood.

Bent and Latics duo Darren Sheridan and Mark Allott were all dismissed following a touchline fracas involving a host of players from both sides in the 83rd minute of the second round tie.

But, as he faces up to the prospect of a three game ban, the former Sheffield United hit-man insists he has been harshly treated by Staffordshire official Alan Bates.

"To be honest, their number three had been going around taking people's legs all through the game so when I saw him tread on Darren Dunning I went over to try and help my team-mate by pushing their guy away," said Bent.

"But as I went over to the sideline their subs then came on and one grabbed me and they started kicking me.

"So there was nothing more I could do about it, I was just trying to defend myself whilst he tried to punch me.

"I'm gutted because this was a chance to come on and maybe get a goal or try and impress the manager with a good performance.

"But instead the ref has sent me off and I don't know why because there was a lot worse things going on.

"People were throwing punches and I'm just surprised only two of them got sent off because I thought it should have been more.

"But that's Oldham for you."

Rovers boss Graeme Souness is now considering lodging an appeal over the decision if video evidence supports Bent's claims that he was the innocent party.

"We feel Marcus was harshly treated and it's maybe something we'll have to look at on video and if we feel it's worth appealing then that's something we may do," said Souness.

Bent's dismissal overshadowed an otherwise comfortable 2-0 victory for Rovers, secured courtesy of goals for Matt Jansen and Darren Dunning.

And, after Nathan Blake completed a £1.4 million move to Wolves yesterday, Souness's striking resources could soon be stretched if Bent gets hit with the maximum punishment.

Souness, however, currently has no plans to bring in a replacement in the wake of Blake's departure.

"We're not actively looking for anyone at the moment but anything is possible," said the Rovers boss.

"Just because Nathan has gone, we are not going to go out looking for another striker."

Explaining his reasons for deciding to let Blake go, he added: "He wants to be playing regular first team football, we couldn't guarantee him that and the offer we got was one we felt we couldn't turn down.

"So I think it's a good move for the boy."