ROY Hodgson sprang to the defence of Garry Flitcroft today, claiming his imminent suspension was unjust.

With no appeals procedure against bookings, the Blackburn Rovers boss's hands are tied and he has to accept that Flitcroft will serve a two-game ban after collecting his fifth caution of the season.

Hodgson has no criticism of referee Graham Poll, even though the manager believes the official got it wrong at Pride Park.

And, after viewing the incident at Derby on video, he is more convinced than ever that Flitcroft was innocent of any offence.

"It really is most frustrating because we have seen the episode now many times on the video and it's actually an extremely good challenge," he said.

"He actually wins the ball in a 50-50 challenge, kicks the ball away and the player who goes in with him falls over due to the quality and strength of the challenge.

"The frustrating thing is that, instead of getting one booking knocked off by playing five successive games without a booking, he actually gets one - which he doesn't deserve - and, as a result, he is suspended for two games.

"So, if you are talking about bad luck, he is somebody who has suffered from the absolute maximum of bad luck.

"We have no recourse whatsoever. If there was I am pretty sure that people looking at it would make sure that Garry was given the benefit of the doubt for the fairness of the challenge.

"And, as a result, he would be looking at one booking less. "But there's nothing you can do about it."

Hodgson readily accepts that it was not as easy for the match referee to make the right decision. He said: "I am sure that were Graham Poll, who refereed the game very well, to see the incident as we have seen it on TV, he would never have given a yellow card.

"But what happens is that he doesn't see the incident as we see it because he is in the thick of the play and, furthermore, 25,000 Derby people scream and moan because their player falls on the ground."

Hodgson is pleased by Rovers' overall disciplinary record, even though they had three players sent off earlier in the season.

"We've been very disciplined. The sendings-off were ridiculous, most of them, they are things that happen," he said.

"But our disciplinary record is excellent and our fair play record is excellent.

"I am just surprised to see in the so-called Fair Play League that is produced teams like Tottenham being given better ratings for positive play than Blackburn Rovers. "I find it really hard to understand how a team that's third from the bottom of the League and has had so many goals against them could be regarded as a more positive football team than Blackburn Rovers who, in my opinion, have been one of the most offensive teams in the country during the first half of the season.

"But I don't understand those leagues and, quite honestly, it's the last league I am interested in winning."

Hodgson firmly quashed any lingering speculation that Rovers were interested in Port Vale's Gareth Ainsworth and said that he had not heard of any change from Lazio in Pier Luigi Casiraghi's situation - despite reports in today's national newspapers to the contrary.

More signings do not appear imminent with the manager adding: "We think our squad's good at the moment.

"But we've got our eyes open like all clubs - I presume they have their eyes open - for the top class man that becomes available."

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