FOR the life of me I can't see why Blackburn Rovers have got the reputation they've got.

Yes, I know they're up before the FA this week because of their bad disciplinary record, and I know Paul Dickov's red card against West Ham wasn't clever.

But it doesn't make them a rough side and it doesn't mean they play with an over aggressive style.

I can see why a lot of people in the game have branded them as that but it's based more on reputation than what actually happens on the pitch.

Look at Robbie Savage. Yes, he flies in but one of the reasons he does that is because when he misses a challenge he can recover quickly.

In other words, he's good at it, which is why he's only been sent off once in his career - and that was for a perfectly reasonable reaction to a horrific challenge on HIM.

Robbie just winds people up more than anything and there's nothing wrong with that.

Andy Todd seems to be another that people point the finger at but I don't understand why people say certain things about him, because I haven't seen it.

He's solid and tough, as all defenders should be, but one incident against Arsenal in the FA Cup last year seemed to turn everyone against him and the whole club.

Now I'm reading reports that Dickov's sending off against West Ham won't help Rovers' cause when the FA decide on their punishment.

But I don't think that this is a reflection on the way Rovers play as a team, for me it was just one moment of madness.

Paul would be the first to say that it was a stupid challenge because there's always a good chance to get sent off if you slide in after the ball.

It's like turning round to a ref and swearing at him, you're going to get sent off.

Paul has to watch that as he's not a kid anymore, he's not 19 or 20, and while I understand it's part of his make-up and part of his game, sooner or later the penny has to drop because you lose players.

You pay people to be available and it's bad enough losing them to injuries never mind daft challenges.

Truthfully though, there were may disappointing aspects to the first game at West Ham and I know Mark Hughes will have learnt a lot and taken it on board for the next game.

The main lesson is that they are all tough games at this level and the Premiership is cruel.