Blackburn Rovers manager defends Chimbonda (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Blackburn Rovers manager defends Chimbonda

12:20pm Monday 9th November 2009

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SAM Allardyce has jumped to the defence of Pascal Chimbonda after Rovers’ French defender escaped seeing red on Saturday.

Chimbonda appeared to slap Portsmouth’s Jamie O’Hara after having his shirt pulled as Rovers trailed 1-0, but referee Andre Marriner deemed a yellow card was enough.

Portsmouth were clearly aggrieved by the decision, as Rovers hit back after the break to win the game, but Allardyce insists the situation shouldn’t have got that far.

He said: “If the referee blows his whistle at the right time, there is no incident.

“But he doesn't blow his whistle and he keeps allowing O'Hara to tug him.

"It was almost two rounds of boxing before he decided to blow his whistle.

“He caused the reaction of Pascal to throw his arms out and hit him on the shoulder.

"People say he might get sent off but it would have been the referee's fault and no one elses.”

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