ROVERS skipper Garry Flitcroft today pleaded his innocence in the wake of his dramatic sending off against Bolton at the weekend.
Flitcroft was sensationally red-carded after picking up two bookings in the opening nine minutes of Rovers' fifth round FA Cup clash at the Reebok on Saturday.
But the Bolton-born midfielder believes stand-in referee David Pugh acted too hastily in the blood and thunder of a Lancashire derby.
And the 27-year-old also turned up the heat ahead of Friday night's rematch by claiming Wanderers' teenage midfielder Kevin Nolan made a meal of the second incident which ultimately led to his downfall.
"I did catch their lad in the first challenge after two minutes," said Flitcroft.
"But it was a derby game, the tackles were flying in during the opening 10 minutes, and I felt the referee failed to take that into account.
"As for the second one, I thought Nolan made a meal of it.
"I hardly touched him and if he had got up straight away it would have made it easier for me.
"Even Craig Hignett said to the fourth official at the time that I'd won the ball and he agreed.
"But I suppose I've got to be a little bit more cautious in those situations because you're walking a fine line.
"The manager said to me later that after my first challenge I shouldn't have dived in for the second.
"But the ball was there to be won and that's the type of player I am.
"I had a lot of friends watching the game and my dad was only just taking his seat as I was walking off.
"But I thought the lads were tremendous in the way they dug in and ground out a result.
"And it was a really nice gesture when Dunny ran over to the bench after he scored as if to say that was for you.
"That shows the spirit we have in the squad."
Rovers boss Graeme Souness felt the referee was right to send off Flitcroft as both challenges merited bookings.
FROM BACK PAGE But he refused to criticise his captain on a day when his side showed tremendous resolve to grind out a result.
"Garry Flitcroft is a competitive player and, if there's an honest performer in the dressing room, then he's top of the list," said Souness.
"He's disappointed because he let the team down but he'll learn from it because we've all been there.
"He arrived late on a couple of occasions and he paid the price.
"But we have to be delighted with our performance overall.
"In the first half we had the chances to wrap the game up.
"Matt Jansen would normally put at least one of those away but he didn't.
"So let's just hope he's saving them for Friday.
"We had to concede ground after going down to 10 men but I don't think they caused us too many problems.
"Their goal was rather fortunate because the shot was going wide when Henning Berg was trying to get back into a defensive position.
"But credit to them, they are second in the First Division and they're a good team.
"From our part, I would have liked to have seen eleven against eleven because I think we would have caused them more problems than we did.
"Neither of us really wanted a replay but if you're asking whether I'd rather be in it or out of the Cup, then I'd rather be in it."
Flitcroft will now miss Rovers' League clash with West Brom at Ewood a week on Saturday.
But he will still have to walka disciplinary tightrope as he is just one more caution away from a further two-match suspension.
Meanwhile, Rovers will face Arsenal at Highbury if they beat Bolton in their fifth round replay on March 7.
But Souness today refused to contemplate the prospect of a mouthwatering tie against the Gunners.
"I'm not even thinking about that at this stage," said Souness.
"We've got two massive games this week first and then we've got to win the replay."
Rovers academy Under 19s drew 2-2 with Manchester City, Jonathan Douglas and Mark Richards the scorers while the Under 17s defeated Newcastle 3-2, Michael Cole, Ciaran Donnelly and Jonathan Walters on target.
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