SOUNESS has blasted referee Mike Dean after he failed to award Rovers a penalty at Sunderland on Saturday following a challenge by Jody Craddock on Mark Hughes.

"I think when referees see Mark Hughes's name on the team-sheet then automatically a picture forms in their heads about him," said Souness.

"Mark said it was a penalty against him but he doesn't get everything he should do on a football pitch.

"I think refs see him as an uncompromising centre forward who in the past may have come across those refs and I don't think he gets treated fairly at all."

Souness was desperately disappointed not to take something from the game after Niall Quinn's heroics consigned Rovers to a 1-0 defeat.

Quinn came off the bench to head home what turned out to be the winner nine minutes from time.

But Souness was left to reflect on a hosted of wasted chances which ultimately cost his side dearly.

"We can't keep missing chances like we are at the minute," said Souness.

"If we'd have scored first on Saturday then I think we would have gone on to win the game comfortably.

"We withstood the early pressure, managed to keep their crowd quiet and then created some good chances ourselves but we didn't take them.

"And that's something you can't afford to do at this level because you end up getting punished.

"We played well enough to get something from the game but went home empty handed which is very disappointing.

"Give Sunderland credit, though. They worked hard to stop us playing and they managed to achieve that.

"They're an in-your-face type of team and they don't give you any rest.

"We normally get it down and pass it more than we did but I think you have to hold your hand up and say they stopped us from doing that."

One plus point for Souness was the performance of Lucas Neill on his debut.

With John Curtis forced to withdraw from the squad due to a calf strain, Neill acquitted himself well after being handed his first Premiership start following his £600,000 move from Millwall.

"It was ironic that in the week we sign a new right-sided player, John Curtis missed his first game for us because of injury," said Souness.

"But I thought Lucas slotted in well and didn't look out of place."