GRAEME Souness was branded "a disgrace" today after his bitter, public attack on Mike Whitlow in the war of words that followed Saturday's stormy Reebok relegation derby.

Wanderers' substitute Dean Holdsworth rapped back angrily at the Blackburn manager, who accused Whitlow of "play acting" in the 17th minute flashpoint, when England striker Andy Cole was sent off.

"To accuse anybody on our side of cheating, especially Mike Whitlow, is a disgrace," the striker fumed after the 1-1 draw. "People should start looking at themselves before saying things like that about Mike Whitlow. He is one of the nicest people in the game and anyone who says different wants his head testing!"

Souness claimed Whitlow "winked at his team-mates, asking 'has he sent him off yet?'" as he lay on the ground, injured by Cole's retaliatory stamp. He also suggested he had feigned injury, claiming "Coley didn't hurt him badly and that proved to be the case because he played the rest of the game without any sign of a challenge."

Tempers flared at half time when the former Manchester United hit-man, who joined Rovers at Christmas in a record £7.5 million deal had to be restrained during an ugly confrontation in the dressing room area. He also argued with Wanderers' boss Sam Allardyce near the tunnel area at the end of the game before Souness stepped in.

Police are also investigating a post-match incident involving Cole's team-mate, Tugay, and a Wanderers' steward, who claims the Turkish midfielder spat in his face. Tugay alleges he was assaulted.

Yet many observers thought referee Paul Durkin got it right when he booked Whitlow for the original tackle on Cole before showing

the Blackburn man the red card. "I don't think there's a person outside the Blackburn camp who saw it any different," Holdsworth added.

"The tackle was worthy of a booking and that's all it was. It was only a tackle and Andy retaliated - and, as we all know, you can't do that in the game now.

"We know that Whits is not one of those people who goes down and feigns any injury. He's an honest guy. He plays to win, always has done."

In his astonishing attack on Whitlow - on television and in press conferences - Souness said his behaviour was "unacceptable" and drew comparisons with his experiences of continental players. "Andy deserved to be sent off," he accepted, "but he fell for the three-card trick. That was a dangerous tackle and I've seen players sent off for that kind of challenge. Andy responded, which is wrong.

"But the play-acting is the worst aspect of the sending off. That's not cricket and that was the source of the anger at half-time and right now (after the game).

"That is one thing the foreigners have brought to this game. I've worked on the continent and they think getting someone sent off is good play ... not in my book but that's what happened here. Is that what it's come to? If it is, we're in trouble."

Holdsworth claimed the "cheat" attack was designed to deflect attention from Cole's loss of control which will mean him missing three of Rovers' last 11 games through suspension - possibly more if Mr Durkin reports the half-time incident to the Football Association.

"People should look at themselves first before looking at Mike Whitlow and saying things like that. It's just bitter," he said.

"What Andy did was wrong and you can't overshadow it by calling someone else a cheat. It's a disgraceful thing to say. Mike Whitlow doesn't need to take any flak at all."

Whitlow kept his comments brief after the game but insisted he had four stud marks on his thigh as a legacy of Cole's stamp. "I know what I saw and I know what he did," the 34-year-old defender said. "I'd rather not say anything more about it."

But Sam Allardyce sprang to his club captain's defence. "I don't think he was damaged but he was kicked by Andy Cole and Mike Whitlow doesn't stay down unless he feels it. He's an honest professional and always has been. "

And reacting to Souness' attack, the manager said: "It's disappointing that Graeme should say something like that. Do players always tell the truth or do they just say things to get themselves out of trouble?

"But irrespective of what Mick Whitlow's done, Andy Cole has retaliated and stamped on him. That's the bottom line.

"Whether anybody was going to say anything after that, he was always going to be sent off."