BILLY McKinlay will have to appear before the Football Association this summer, after it was confirmed that he reached 45 disciplinary points for Blackburn Rovers last season.

And Ewood skipper Tim Sherwood will miss the first three Premiership fixtures of next season, after picking up a three-match suspension.

The duo ran into double trouble at The Dell on the penultimate weekend of the campaign, when Sherwood was sent off for spitting at an opponent and McKinlay picked up his 13th caution of the season at senior level.

It was not known whether Sherwood would be handed a one or three-match ban, but it has now been confirmed as three.

So, while the skipper will be able to turn out in the pre-season fixtures, he will have to sit it out when Rovers kick-off their Premiership campaign on August 9. The club are hopeful, however, that McKinlay will escape a further suspension after missing four matches through bans in the season just ended. Middlesbrough's Robbie Mustoe recently appeared before the FA in similar circumstances and escaped another ban.

"A fine and a warning were given in that case and, as Billy has not had to appear before the FA on a previous occasion, we would be hopeful that he would avoid a suspension," said Rovers secretary Tom Finn.

Although the Ewood duo face a disciplinary hangover from the successful fight against relegation, the club's overall record has been much improved in the season which finished against Leicester eight days ago - notably without a single caution in the 90 minutes!

Sherwood, in fact, had become the first Rovers player sent off at senior level - with only two more games remaining.

And McKinlay, given the job of the midfield ball-winning role, was always going to be walking a tightrope because of the nature of the role.

Nevertheless, the fans know that it was the sort of committed attitude he brought to the team which made all the difference in the relegation scrap.

A date has yet to be fixed for the Scot to go in front of the FA but the club's perilous predicament for most of the season should also be taken into consideration.

There's a lot more pressure on teams struggling to stay up, as Rovers were - virtually from start to finish.

Inter failed to take advantage of Parma's dropped points when they were held to a 1-1 draw at Roma.

Leaders Juventus and second-placed Parma drew 1-1. PETER WHITE reports

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