GARRY Flitcroft can't wait for the chance to show Blackburn Rovers fans what he is really made of, following his debut-day sickener against Everton.

And the £3 million man, adamant that he would never try to hurt a fellow professional, revealed today that his stunning dismissal against Everton on Saturday had left him, his family and friends "absolutely gutted".

Flitcroft made what could well be the shortest debut in Ewood history, as he was controversially sent off in only the third minute of his first Rovers game.

But he defended himself, saying: "I have had a lot of bookings this season, but many of them have been undeserved.

"I like to tackle but I don't go over the top and I would never go in to try to hurt anybody.

"The gaffer has asked me exactly what happened on Saturday and I think it must have looked worse because I jumped into the challenge (for a ball in the air with Tony Grant) from a distance. I just caught him but I don't even think it was with my elbow."

My view of TV pictures suggested that Flitcroft had raised his arm to protect his own face, as opposed to using it in an attempt to deliberately injure Grant.

And that was supported by other Rovers players near the incident.

But referee Jeff Winter saw it otherwise and Flitcroft said: "Duncan Ferguson coming in like he did probably made it worse.

"I had been really looking forward to the game all week and I had about 15 family and friends there to watch me.

"They left early, we were absolutely gutted.

"Now I just can't wait to play again and, hopefully, I will be involved in the next home game against Newcastle.

"The fans gave me a great reception on Saturday and I am sure they know I want to show them what I can do."

Saturday's game at Southampton is all-ticket and there will not be any available on the day of the game.

There are only a few hundred remaining and they are on sale at Ewood until 12 noon on Thursday. Fans are urged not to travel without a ticket.

Yesterday, there were only a couple of hundred seats left on restricted sale for the Easter Monday game against Newcastle which is also all-ticket.

Tickets are now on open sale for the home game against Wimbledon on Wednesday, April 17, and the game at Nottingham Forest the previous Saturday, April 13.

Seats at the City Ground cost £17 adults, £10 concessions.

Easter opening times for the Ewood ticket office, which is closed on Good Friday, are: Easter Saturday 9am-12.30pm; Easter Monday 2pm-kick-off.

Ewood apprentice James Thomas has been called up to the Welsh under-18 squad to take on Northern Ireland at Wrexham on Monday, April 15.

Another heat in the quiz to find the Rovers Mastermind is due to be held at the Kings Inn, Blackburn, tonight (8pm). Entry fee is just £1.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.