ROVERS centre-half Craig Short pleaded his innocence following his sending off.

Craig Short said: "I HAD got the ball, I was in possession, I saw him trying to come across and close the gap, so I thought I've got to hold him off.

"And because I'm tall, I'm sometimes going to catch people in the face doing that.

"But the worst thing about all this for me is I'm now being associated with being a dirty player which I'm not.

"I think I'm a hard player who is committed and passionate but I'm fair. I don't go out intentionally to hurt people."

Graeme Souness said: "WE started very well and Andy's chance was a great one. He did everything right but, maybe, hit it too well.

"On another day they go in or it hits the keeper on the back of the head and bobbles over the line.

"But when you are where we are that doesn't happen for you.

"Then, with the second one, I think it hit Van Der Sar rather than him saving it so, if we'd gone in front then, it would have been a very different game because at that point we were bossing it."

Get all of Rovers match facts and reports...click here.