Blackburn manager Paul Ince has criticised Chelsea assistant manager Ray Wilkins over his claims that Rovers were over-physical and aggressive.

Ince confronted Wilkins after the Blues' 2-0 defeat at Ewood Park.

He said: "For him to come out with that garbage about us trying to put them on their backsides and that we are over-physical - we weren't like that.

"Of course I was a physical character as a player but all the teams I have managed have played football."

Wilkins had said before the match that it would be "one of aggression" because Blackburn played in the image of their manager, who was a tough-tackling midfielder in his playing days.

However, his fears proved ungrounded, although the heavy first-half rain and standing water on the pitch caused problems for the players.

Nicolas Anelka scored in either half to put the Blues level on points with Liverpool at the top of the table on manager Luiz Felipe Scolari's 60th birthday.

But Ince was furious at Wilkins's post-match remarks, adding: "I just said to him 'next time you are going to say something make sure you get your facts right'.

606: DEBATE Give your reaction to Ince's comments

"I told him that in no uncertain terms."

Ince praised Paul Robinson, who made a string of fine saves to deny Chelsea in the first half.

But the England keeper could do little to stop Anelka's deflected effort from Jose Bosingwa's drive for Chelsea's opener.

"The performance of my 'keeper was fantastic, as far as I am concerned he's back to his best.

"There was an element of luck to both their goals and in the second half we really took the game to them and were by far the better team.

"Their first goal killed us really - I don't know if it hit his (Anelka's) hand or his side but we have had no luck at all this season."

Wilkins said the Chelsea players had proved a point after the midweek Champions League defeat against Roma, and did well in testing conditions of driving rain.

He said: "A lot of people would have said we might slip up today especially when they saw the conditions so there was a lot of pride in this performance."

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