IT had the multi-millionaires Manchester City in a flap.

But Tommy Spurr has played down the power of his prodigious long throw.

“I just throw it into the box and hope for the best,” said modest Spurr, who will line-up for Blackburn Rovers against his former club Doncaster at Ewood Park today (3pm).

But while the likeable left-back is unwilling to talk up the weapon that caused carnage in the City box in last weekend’s FA Cup tie, his manager certainly is.

Rovers boss Gary Bowyer said: “You’re talking about world class defenders and at times they weren’t quite comfortable with it.

“I remember going to Stoke City under Tony Pulis and seeing Rory Delap’s throw-ins.

“I remember the first time I was there and the ball went out of play and the crowd got really excited and I was looking for something else that was going on in the game.

“But it was all because of a throw-in.

“The noise that the fans generated before Rory even picked up the ball was unbelievable and the impact that it had on the opposition played a massive part in Stoke scoring a load of goals.

“I think we’ve got something similar with Tommy and I think our crowd can play a part as well.”

The power Spurr puts into his laser-like throw-ins leaves him in pain – ‘my back kills’ – after every game.

But he is willing to push through the pain barrier as long as it continues to help his side.

“As the gaffer said when I first signed it’s something a bit different,” said Spurr who, as a summer free transfer from Doncaster, represents one of Bowyer’s best pieces of transfer business since taking over the Rovers hot-seat.

“It’s good to throw it into the box and keep teams under pressure.

“It’s a different way than trying to break teams down with passing.

“You can just put it in there and hopefully we can win a second ball or get a goal like we did against Watford.”

But Spurr admits there is a danger that his throws overshadow his accomplishments as a defender.

“It’s all that anyone mentioned after the City game,” said the 26-year-old, who is in his seventh season in the Championship after previous stints with Sheffield Wednesday as well as Doncaster.

“It was like, ‘Tommy can throw it a long way’. I was like, ‘cheers, thanks!’”