Massey (right) walks out at Bloomfield Road

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway has criticised fans for chants aimed at assistant referee Sian Massey during Saturday's home draw with Aston Villa.

The match was Massey's first in the Premier League since the sexism row involving former Sky Sports presenters Richard Keys and Andy Gray.

Holloway said he was happy at Massey's performance in the 1-1 draw but added: "I didn't like some of the shouts.

"Is that funny? 'There is only one Andy Gray'. That's rude."

Holloway added: "You have got to forget about all of that and get on with things, haven't we.

"I think we should let things lie in the past - did she do all right? Absolutely."

She took the right decisions. I was confident in her. She is good at what she is doing Aston Villa boss Gerard Houllier

Aston Villa manager Gerard Houllier also praised Massey's performance in the draw between the two Premier League sides at Bloomfield Road.

Houllier said: "She took the right decisions. I was confident in her. She is good at what she is doing."

Massey was propelled into the media spotlight by off-air remarks made by presenter Keys and pundit Gray before the match between Wolves and Liverpool on 22 January.

Believing their microphones were switched off, they were recorded before the Molineux game suggesting that Massey and other female officials "did not know the offside rule".

Gray was sacked after further allegations of sexist behaviour came to light, while Keys resigned.

The pair have since signed up to work for radio station talkSPORT.

In the furore over their comments, Massey was removed from match duty because of the media attention on her.

She missed the League Two contest between Crewe and Bradford on 25 January as well as the Blue Square Bet North match between Corby Town and Eastwood four days later.

However, she did return to run the line in the 2-2 draw between Chesterfield and Aldershot last Saturday.

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