MARK Hughes has warned his players of the need to keep their emotions in check in light of the recent furore concerning the level of respect shown to match officials.

Ashley Cole's petulant spat with Mike Riley, during Chelsea's draw with Tottenham 10 days ago, has led to renewed calls for a major clampdown on players who are guilty of showing dissent to referees.

As a result, Hughes believes the behaviour of players and man-agers is sure to be scrutinised like never before during the run-in, which is why he has stressed the importance to his squad of keeping a cool head in the heat of battle.

The Rovers chief, whose side face Reading at the Madejski Stadium today, said: "I think the events of the last couple of weeks have raised the issue in many people's minds and we are all conscious of it.

"On occasions it can be difficult to take decisions in the right way, but players, managers, and coaches - everyone - have to be mindful of the fact we are very much in the public eye, and we can have an affect not only on people in football, but on people who watch football in the grander scheme of things.

"If you struggle to cope with the emotional part of the game then in key games, and high-risk moments, sometimes you can err on the wrong side, and we've seen examples of that just lately.

"I think it's very difficult for referees these days, because there's so much riding on games and key decisions.

"Those big decisions are the ones we stress to referees that they need to get right.

"But I'm of a similar mind to everyone else, in as much as I think players sometimes have to understand that everything is viewed to really small detail now, and anything that people see that they feel they can jump on, more often than not, they will do.

"So you should never give anyone an opportunity to question how you approach your professional work.

"But, on occasions, those opportunities have been given by players."

With referees urged to make examples of persistent offenders on the back of the Cole incident, Steve Bennett issued a red card to Liverpool's Javier Mascherano during Sunday's game with Manchester United, after the Argentine repeatedly questioned some of his decisions.

Mascherano has since been charged with improper conduct by the Football Association, and faces a possible three-match ban, with the authorities seemingly intent on adopting a policy of zero tolerance in an attempt to clamp down on dissent.

But, while Hughes has backed the calls for greater respect to be shown to referees, he also believes officials are not completely blameless themselves.

"The thing with referees and players, and everyone involved in professional football, is that we prepare correctly," said the Rovers boss.

"On some occasions, when they (referees) are preparing for certain games, with certain individuals involved, then maybe when things get a little bit heated, some of the negative thoughts they have in the back of their minds about certain individuals come to the fore.

"That's understandable because it's human nature. But that's when decisions can be seen to be the wrong ones in some people's eyes.

"At the end of the day, football's an emotional game and referees are very much part of that, and on occasions they can be as emotional as players and managers.

"What has to happen is everyone needs to understand that because it's not a black and white sport, and it's very difficult to keep an even keel.

"If you are able to do that then you are maybe not suited to professional sport and you wouldn't get anywhere."