Holloway plays down Diouf row

Blackpool manager Ian Holloway has refused to be drawn in to the latest El-Hadji Diouf spitting controversy.

Holloway's men continued their impressive recent form with a 3-1 win at Doncaster on Tuesday night, but the result has been subsequently overshadowed by accusations from Seasiders' forward Gary Taylor-Fletcher that Rovers striker Diouf spat at visiting goalkeeper Matt Gilks during a half-time altercation.

Diouf won a contentious spot-kick on the stroke of the interval and converted a nonchalant chip before engaging in a spat with Gilks in the goalmouth and, although Holloway confirmed the argument continued after the half-time whistle, he insisted he had no idea whether the Senegal striker spat in his keeper's direction.

"I know there was ruckus," he said. "It started over the penalty which he earned - I don't think it really was but the referee gave it and he scored it.

"At the end of the day if we're going to get funny because someone scores against us and won't give us the ball back... I don't want us getting involved in that. It's a storm in a teacup, a waste of space. Let's get on with the next game."

Diouf has previously been sanctioned for spitting at Celtic fans while playing for Liverpool and Portsmouth's Arjan de Zeeuw during his time with Bolton, but has enjoyed an unfamiliar absence from controversy since joining Doncaster in October.