Savage bust-up will not derail us, says Dowie

14 April 2012

Blackburn 1 C Palace 0

Robbie Savage sparked a tunnel bust-up with angry Crystal Palace players by clashing with Wayne Routledge.

The Blackburn midfielder allegedly threw an elbow at the 20-year-old as he left the pitch at half-time in his side's 1-0 win at Ewood Park last night and became embroiled in a fracas.

He was involved in heated exchanges with Routledge before the break and, when already on a booking, was lucky not to have been sent off for one of his challenges on the England Under-21 international.

Tempers boiled over at the end of the half and players had to be separated in the tunnel before going into their dressing rooms.

Witnesses said no punches were thrown but Iain Dowie effectively branded Savage a coward and promised the Welshman's actions would not be forgotten.

The Palace manager said: "A young boy was clipped around the head with an elbow.

"If he had wanted to do it to some of our senior players or myself I would have been quite happy to have had a chat with him about it. That has not lost us the game but it is disappointing when it happens to a boy that age.

"That is for brave people to do when they are on their way off rather than pick one of the bigger lads. He will have to deal with that.

"We will keep it in our hat until next time we meet. That is the best way."

Savage played down the incident and claimed he was withdrawn at half-time because of a groin injury.

However, he also clashed with Michael Hughes just before the break and appeared destined to earn a second yellow card had Mark Hughes not substituted him.

Television footage which showed him clipping Routledge on his way off the pitch could still land him in trouble with the Football Association and will do nothing for Blackburn's reputation.

A verdict was due today on Andy Todd's contested violent conduct charge after he left Arsenal's Robin van Persie with a split lip in their FA Cup semi-final clash last Saturday.

But Palace's players will be among those who can testify that Blackburn's physical style of play is effective.

Although Dowie's side were not bullied out of the game last night, in concentrating on standing up for themselves they lost the stylish game they hoped would bring desperatelyneeded points. Blackburn's-goal came from a free-kick needlessly conceded by Fitz Hall which was whipped in by Savage and poked beyond Gabor Kiraly by Morten Gamst Pedersen in firsthalf stoppage time.

Routledge caused manager Hughes's side problems throughout, but for all Palace's commitment they could not break down Blackburn's defence and managed only one shot on target all night.

At the other end, Kiraly was kept pretty busy and as the game went on had to block two one-on-ones and watch Steven Reid's free header in the six-yard box miss the target. With the other teams in the bottom four picking up points from midweek games, relegationthreatened Palace are now two points from safety.

Their game against Liverpool on Saturday has assumed even greater importance and Mikele Leigertwood will be a doubt with a hamstring problem.

But Nicola Ventola could be ready for a place in the squad after missing most of the season with a knee injury.

Dowie said: "I don't expect people to be coming in with bumps and bruises now.

"It is time for everyone to step up to the plate now, knocks or not. Knees, bad ankles, I don't want to hear about them now.

"Let's not be down in the dumps, we have got opportunities to get results. We are not chucking in the towel. No one has run away from us and we have got to get a result against Liverpool.

"We have to get together, keep working for each other and put up a fighting performance."

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