Blackburn Rovers are ready to launch a strenuous defence of Andy Todd after the Football Association finally bowed to media pressure and charged the 30-year-old with violent conduct last night.

After spending 48 hours deliberating Todd's clash with Arsenal's Robin van Persie, the FA decided to take action yesterday by charging the Rovers skipper for a breach of FA rule E3 for violent conduct, which could lead to a three-match ban.

Rovers are ready to appeal, however, and they will request a personal hearing before today's 6pm deadline because they insist the former Bolton and Charlton defender is innocent.

"We will appeal against it," said manager Mark Hughes.

"Having spoken to Andy, he assures me it was a purely accidental collision and he told the referee the same thing at the time, and the referee himself said he saw nothing in it.

"That's also my view on it, and even though the FA have done something about it, that's still my take on it."

Hughes wasn't expecting Todd to be charged after the referee, Steve Dunn, appeared to suggest he had seen the incident and there was no case to answer.

However, Mr Dunn then appeared to make a u-turn as he stated in his report that he didn't get a full view of the incident.

In the meantime, Hughes is worried referees may now be influenced by all the adverse publicity Rovers have received since Saturday's game.

Rovers - and Todd in particular - have been lambasted in the Press for their 'overly aggressive' approach to the tie.

"If referees read papers then that's an obvious danger," said the Rovers boss.

"But I think we've got decent referees in the Premiership and you'd like to think they won't be swayed by anything they've seen or heard and they just judge every game on its merits."

Rob Styles, the referee who has been placed in charge of the Cup final, was due to officiate at tonight's game with Crystal Palace but he was switched to the Middlesbrough versus Fulham game at late notice, so Peter Walton will be the man in the middle at Ewood this evening for a match that will be scrutinised closely by the media.

Hughes, meanwhile, is still angry at the way Saturday's Cup tie was reported and he's called on his players and the fans to create a seige mentality at Ewood for the rest of the season.

"We had a meeting on Monday about it," said Hughes.

"I thought it was important we got together as a group and I told the players that, from my point of view and the staff's point of view, we are approaching games in the right manner.

"We are competitive and we won't change our approach. We are in a situation where we have to get points on the board and in recent weeks, we've been able to do that.

"We are not in a position to change at this stage in the season, we've got to go with what we are good at.

"I think everyone at Blackburn Rovers has taken the criticism of the last few days personally but this will make us stronger and, between now and the end of the season, we'll just get on with our jobs and get on with our business.

"I'm sure we'll be in the Premier League again next season and I think the events of this year will help us for the next one.

"We'll hit the ground running and we won't be struggling at this end of the table next year because I fully expect us to be in the top half."