This is the PA quotes story in full HUGHES RESPONDS TO CRITICISM By Ian Parkes, PA Sport Unhappy Blackburn manager Mark Hughes has vowed to change people’s negative perceptions of his side. Hughes has been stunned by the criticism levelled at Blackburn following Saturday’s 3-0 FA Cup semi-final defeat by Arsenal at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger was among those critical of Blackburn’s physical approach, accusing Hughes’ players of making a number of “atrocious tackles.” The first three of Rovers’ four bookings, for David Thompson, Garry Flitcroft and Aaron Mokoena, were all for cynical fouls on Arsenal skipper Patrick Vieira. Yet Hughes feels the retribution that has followed has been unwarranted and has resulted in his side being given a ’health warning’ label that may take a while to remove. But Hughes is determined to do so, taking his first step yesterday as he called in all the players and staff for a meeting. “When I read the papers on the Sunday, I was astounded by the level of criticism, and to have to withstand that is not on,” said Hughes. “Some of the comments were quite personal, not only to Andy (Todd, involved in an incident with Robin van Persie), but also to a number of the players and it was disrespectful to the club because even our fans were thrown into the mix. “I just felt they were totally unbalanced, bordering on hysterical. It was out of order and completely at odds with how I viewed the game. “It’s been difficult to take and understand because in no way did I feel we overstepped the mark. I just felt we were competitive. “We weren’t going to go into a game as important as that and not try to make an impact. We tried to do that, but we came up against a good side and we weren’t good enough on the day. “Since then it’s been a case of putting some perspective on it, so I had a meeting with all the players and staff first thing yesterday, and it was important we did that because of the criticism from all angles. “It was important we steadied ourselves and realised we have had a great season this year up until this point, and we need to finish it off, starting tomorrow against Crystal Palace. “Unfortunately, I don’t think we’ll ever get credit for what we do. That’s the situation we find ourselves in because we’ve been labelled and mud sticks, which is going to take a long time for it to drop off. “For it to it do that we will continue to work hard and we will have to turn people’s minds around, if that’s possible. “In the short term we won’t be able to do that because their views have been shaped, which we have to accept, so we will just get on with it.” In many respects, a siege mentality is developing at Ewood Park, with Hughes adding: “It felt a bit like that at the weekend. “But at times like this you become stronger as a group. The people involved here at Blackburn, and the fans, know what effort we put in. “We also have a certain way of playing that’s been successful in the situation we have found ourselves. "But next season, with a few additions to the squad, I feel we will have a good season and we won’t be struggling at the wrong end of the table. “I think the work we have done this season will stand us in good stead and we will kick on. We just need to get through this season and then next season you will still see a competitive Blackburn side, but one that’s at the top end.” Hughes feels one more win is required to guarantee safety, with the hope of picking up those three points against a relegation-haunted Palace side. “The teams below us are running out of games, so if we win it will make it difficult for those teams to get anywhere near us,” he said. “Palace are obviously desperate for points. They’ve shown great spirit, so we will have to play as well as we have done of late, and if we do then I feel we’ll have enough.”

Revidge, Hughes held a press conference today, only part of which was published in the LET, in which he expressed his outrage at the Sunday newspapers' coverage and in particular their criticism of the club's fans. Would agree that a statement from Williams and/or the board should be forthcoming also.

TODD CHARGED By Ian Parkes, PA Sport Blackburn captain Andy Todd has today been charged with violent conduct by the Football Association after elbowing Robin van Persie during his side’s FA Cup semi-final defeat by Arsenal on Saturday. Under the fast-track system, Todd now has until 6pm tomorrow to respond to the charge after the FA’s compliance unit reviewed video footage of the incident at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium. Todd is seen catching van Persie in the face with his elbow after the Dutchman, who finished the game with a bloodied fat lip, turns away to celebrate the second of his two late goals in the 3-0 win. Bristol referee Steve Dunn is understood not to have witnessed the incident, and so failed to mention it in his report but Rovers boss Mark Hughes has defended his skipper. Hughes today said: “I spoke to Andy immediately after the game and he assured me it was a complete accident. I’ve looked at it again and my view is that I agree with him. "When they come into contact with one another, as Van Persie turns and wheels away, the ball is not even in the net at that point. To say Andy has lashed out and is frustrated because the ball has gone in the back of the net is completely untrue. “If you look at the video, Andy’s focus is entirely on the ball, with Van Persie just colliding into him.” The FA’s decision will come as a major surprise and disappointment to both Hughes and Todd, who faces at least a three-match suspension if found guilty. Todd insisted immediately after the game what transpired was “purely accidental” as he said at the time: “I turned to go back to the centre-circle and he ran into my shoulder. “I don’t know what it looks like on television, but all I have done is turn into him. offered my apologies to the other players, but they did not want to know. If that is the attitude they want to take then fair enough.”

Andy Todd charged with violent conduct by the Football Association.

Palace being a London club, I would be interested to know if a larger number than usual press contingent have reserved seats in the press box for tomorrow night. Lee ?

The FA will decide tomorrow (Tuesday) whether to take disciplinary action over Todd.

The boys in the press box stick together and they usually take a collective line (safety in numbers !). The problem is the media is London-based, whereas up to 15 years ago every national newspaper had a Manchester production base with its own staff that gave their Northern editions a strong regional flavour. There is the added problem that the press have never forgiven Rovers for winning the title ten years ago. Hughes is strong minded enough to ignore the criticism and to stick with the tactics that have taken Rovers out of the relegation zone. I fully expect Rovers to come out fighting on Wednesday night !

Stayaway fans shame Rovers .......... says the headline in tomorrow's papers with picture of empty seats at the Millennium Stadium.

Listening to Talksport in the car on the way home was depressing but not as depressing as the match itself. Let's face it: Rovers were poor and let the club and the fans down on a big occasion. My only observation on the team: What did Dickov do to justify staying on the field for 90 minutes ? I'm fed up of watching him 1) falling over the ball 2) miskicking it on the few occasions he has it at his feet 3) arguing with referees 4) winding up opponents 5) being generally useless. If he is at the club next season it must be only as third or fourth choice striker.

Wonderful to see the look on Sourpuss's face last night as another potential trophy eluded his dismal club. After the manner in which he left Rovers, and the pathetic bunch of demoralised players he left behind, only an idiot would not revel in his discomfort.

As a matter of interest philip: Are you jetting back from your tax haven for the match ? And if not, why not ?

From memory,it was the sogning of Gilliver, the following season, that led to the radical change. Huddersfield refused to pay compensation so we ended up with John Coddington. Codddington in defence; O'Mara up front. Nightmare.

Apologies if this has been posted elsewhere but agencies have reported John Williams admitting that the club may have fewer than 15,000 fans in Cardiff on Saturday. Williams has blamed the FA for the low turn-out after claiming that they have messed up the semi-final weekend by staging both games at the Millennium Stadium. He said: “It will be a great effort if we can take 15,000 fans under the circumstances of high ticket prices, the long journey and the kick-off time. “The FA have made it difficult. It’s a bad decision, not only in terms of location, but coupled with the kick-off time, it has become a very difficult trip for our fans. “The alternative of staying at home to watch on TV is clearly going to affect our attendance on the day. “It would have been better for our fans and better for the game if the semi-final was at Villa Park. "We could fill the Millennium Stadium for the Final. We have done it before when we won the Worthington Cup in Cardiff. "But it’s a tall order for us to get anywhere near selling 30,000 tickets for a semi-final and, sadly, we won’t.” Meanwhile, Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson blames Arsenal for leaning on the FA to get Cardiff chosen as the venue for this weekend’s FA Cup semi-finals. In the latest twist in the long running United-Arsenal feud Ferguson said today: “Apparently it was Arsenal who forced this through. “I think they wanted it at Cardiff last season instead of Villa Park. We are looking forward to the semi-final but it’s a terrible burden on the fans with it being at Cardiff, particularly the Newcastle fans. "The editor of a newspaper said United fans were being arrogant and that they’ve had plenty of semi-finals whereas Newcastle haven’t. "I don’t think that’s the point. The point is the cost to fans. And how many accidents will there be on the way down? It’s a long journey compared to, say, Leeds. I just don’t understand it."

Martin Britt. We were conned into signing another crock. Did he ever play? One game, which we won. Britt was a good player, but with a very bad injury when we signed him. Thank you West Ham. I would like to nominate a couple of 1970s duffers - Martin Fowler and Paul Round. Awful.

Agreed. This is a PR disaster waiting to happen. The club must be able to estimate now how many tickets they will sell in total. A press release should be issued before the weekend blaming the FA. Williams is unlikely to want to upset the FA however, so perhaps supporters organisations/websites (?) should do it for them ?

Really ? The news editors live in the area and have their nose to the ground. They know what is being is said in the clubs/pubs/workplaces of the town and have published an article stating why a large number of supporters won't be going to Cardiff. Negative may be, but the truth. It hurts sometimes.

Dog bites man: no news Man bites dog: news. Twas ever thus. If you want nice happy-clappy stories where the all the world is hunky-dory, buy the Family Circle.

As I said earlier, because the LET is not the club's PR mouthpiece. If there are negative articles, it is because they reflect the general feeling of the Blackburn public.

Of course it is! A long term publicity ban from Williams as a result of a fall-out between the LET AND brfc would see the LET off quick style. What else of substance is in it apart from Births,deaths and marriages's? Some clubs have tried banning the press over perceived "negative" stories, notably Gillingham, but they always relent. Bad publicity is better than no publicity. I doubt if Williams could ban the press anyway: the league's sponsors (Barclays) would do their pieces. Her Majesty's Press will not be denied.

Oh dear, oh dear. Shooting the messenger again. The LET isn't (or shouldn't be) a PR mouthpiece for the club. If fans are facing a nightmare journey (which, with a 12 o'clock kick-off time 200 miles away they almost certainly will be), the paper will be reporting the story. If it's an old billboard and the story has been overtaken by events, you should complain to the newsagent. Blaming the editor of a paper that generally avoids controversy and is very fair to Rovers anyway, is silly.

Absolutely no chance. United are always strong this time of year and they are playing well. 2-0 defeat.

If it were BR still running the railway you'd be OK. It's Virgin Cross Country and Arriva Trains Wales you need to worry about.

Met him an a cricket tour to Shrewsbury. He was a wizard spin bowler (used to play Minor Counties) and was also the groundsman at Shrewsbury FC. He gave us a tour of Gay Meadow (didn't take long) and showed us the famous coracle that they kept in a cupboard under the stairs ! Not sure if they still have or what happened it. It must be worth a fortune as it is part of football folklore. Probably got flogged on ebay.

Are you sure ? Oliver Holt has worked for the Mirror for the past three years.

Appalling game of football but a welcome point. Hughes has set Rovers up 4-5-1, which has made us harder to beat but is excruciating to watch at times. Whether it is good enough to beat Arsenal in the Cup is doubtful. We should survive easily now. The test for Hughes next season will be to inject more skill and creativity while keeping the team defensively sound. Should be interesting.