BLACKBURN Rovers will decide in the next 24 hours whether to appeal against the red card shown to Andy Todd during Saturday's 2-0 defeat to Everton.

Todd was controversially dismissed by referee Mark Halsey after the ball struck his hand when James Beattie burst through in the 30th minute of what had been an enthralling contest up to that point.

It was the second time this season that Halsey had sent off a Blackburn player - the Bolton official was in charge when Zurab Khizanishvili was dismissed for a professional foul in the 1-0 defeat to Liverpool at Anfield in October.

On that occasion, Rovers successfully appealed and the Georgian's red card was promptly rescinded.

Now, manager Mark Hughes will study video footage of Saturday's incident before

deciding whether or not to take a similar course of action again.

The Rovers boss, who angrily confronted Halsey at the final whistle, said: "We appealed with Zurab's and it was proved that it was the wrong decision.

"But whether or not we can do that again, I don't know.

"We'll look at it but it won't bring back the three points. It didn't against Liverpool and it won't do if we appeal this time."

Todd's dismissal provoked an angry response from his team-mates, with Brad Friedel and Michael Gray particularly vocal in their protests.

Both players confronted assistant referee, Mark Warren, who initially brought the incident to Halsey's attention when he raised his flag on the old Riverside.

A furious Gray blasted: "It was so frustrating. I could see the whole thing.

"Andy kept his arms by his side and if the ball did hit his hand, which I think it did, then it was so unfortunate.

"The linesman had a perfect view of it, as did the referee, and I can't understand how he can send him off for such a silly thing.

"When I went across, I was obviously annoyed but you ask the question 'what did you see?' and he responded 'handball'.

"But it's not as if he raised his arm above his shoulder to try and stop the ball, or prevent a chance on goal.

"He also had Ryan alongside him and, like I said before, Andy kept his hands by his side so if it did hit his hand then it wasn't deliberate."

Even Beattie, the Everton player involved in the incident, later admitted the decision to dismiss Todd was harsh.