• Premier League

Allardyce slams Murphy over 'outrageous statement'

Sam Allardyce is unhappy at Danny Murphy's claims that Blackburn are a dirty team © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Whitehead blames Murphy for Stoke strife
  
• News: Wenger backs Murphy's controversial outburst
  
• News: Nothing wrong with 'tough tacklers' - Coyle
  
• News: Danny Murphy put in his place by angry LMA
  
• News: Murphy calls for managers to stamp down on bad tackles
  

Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce has hit back at Danny Murphy's criticism of his team, claiming the Fulham captain's claims that his side are a dirty team are 'unfounded'.

Murphy called for Premier League managers to take responsibility for their players' actions in the wake of a series of bad tackles, and pointed out Blackburn, Stoke and Wolves as serial offenders.

Murphy's comments have prompted a wide response, with Owen Coyle claiming Murphy was 'wrong' to single out individuals, but Allardyce has accused Murphy of creating a 'perception' that Blackburn are a dirty team.

"People like Danny Murphy are giving a perception that is not true. I hate perception - there's far too much of it in the game," Allardyce said.

"I think the players are very angry about what Danny has called them - was it brainless or mindless? - that's an outrageous statement to make. We don't want any backlash from those suggestions because they are unfounded and the backlash is that people's perception out there is we are a dirty side and we're not and we never have been."

Blackburn are yet to have a player sent off this season, and having received 11 yellow cards are fourth in the Premier League disciplinary table behind Everton, Tottenham and Chelsea. And Allardyce insists he is "too professional" to send his team out to deliberately injure another player.

"The allegation made by Danny was totally and utterly wrong as you can see by the facts," he said. "Myself as a manager, this football club and its players in disciplinary terms have improved enormously.

"We have reduced the average booking record; we have reduced the sendings off. We are not dirty. We never go out to injure a player, I never send a player out to go and try and injure a player of the opposition.

"In terms of our disciplinary record we are fourth in the Premier League. That's how good we are this year. Since I have been here it has been the best disciplinary record over the last five years at the football club."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.