Don't Do As I Do

Having haughtily condemned Arsene Wenger for questioning the integrity of match officials, Blackburn manager Mark Hughes, whose normal habit is to prowl the technical area berating the opposition and anyone who dares to give a decision against his players, seemed to be keeping an uncharacteristically low profile during the Lancashire derby against Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok. Unless of course he was merely sheltering from the rain.

Still, with two successful penalties in the second half, even he might have allowed the merest hint of a smile to brighten his customary grimace. Then Nicolas Anelka pulled one back for Bolton in the 87th minute and by the time the fourth official raised the board to indicate 4 minutes of added time, Hughes’ iron self-control had gone out of the window and he reverted to type, disdaining to exercise the respect for officials which he had urged upon the Arsenal manager.