ALL for one and one for all, was the rallying call as Wanderers stood united in an ugly half-time confrontation in the heat of Saturday's stormy derby.

Players stepped in to prevent a furious Andy Cole attacking Mike Whitlow after the pair had been involved in the 17th minute flashpoint that led to the England striker being sent off.

"Cole lost it and went for Whits," said a Reebok insider. "But all the lads stepped in - it showed good team spirit."

Cole had to be restrained by his manager Graeme Souness and club doctor Phil Batty in the incident between the two dressing rooms, out of sight of the 27,000 derby crowd.

There were reports that Souness was hit by Cole in the melee but the Rovers boss, who launched an astonishing verbal attack on Whitlow after the game, said: "That is 100 per cent not true."

Souness was interviewed by police over a complaint that Turkish midfielder Tugay, who was suspended for the game and not in the squad, was involved in a scuffle with a match steward. That incident is now the subject of a police investigation.

Cole, who faces an automatic three-match suspension for being sent off for violent conduct, could face further disciplinary action if match referee Paul Durkin reports the half-time incident to the Football Association.