Yorke ‘abused’ in Ewood thriller

Blackburn 3 Birmingham 3

Yorke told boss Steve Bruce he had been subjected to abuse by two home fans as he warmed up prior to his 74th-minute introduction as substitute.

The latest allegation comes just four days after racism made an unwelcome return to the spotlight when England players were abused in the midweek friendly in Spain.

Bruce said: “They racially abused him. Dwight is bitterly upset and angry.

“It was something similar to the racist taunts the English players had and we just don’t want to see it.

“Apparently it is monkey taunts and that is sick. It’s all right him getting a bit of stick but when it comes to what we’ve just seen in midweek, everybody is sickened by it.”

Yorke left Rovers for St Andrew’s in August, bringing to an end a tempestuous two-year association with the club.

The Trinidad international was roundly booed by fans as he warmed up and in particular when he replaced Darren Anderton as substitute.

Most of the reaction stayed within acceptable boundaries - but it is alleged by Yorke and Bruce that a small minority of supporters took the reaction to his return too far.

Bruce added: “I will sit down with Dwight in the morning and go through the whole situation.

“If we feel there is a point to answer then we will do it.”

Rovers boss Mark Hughes said he was unaware of any incident and would only comment when the facts were made clear.

The club, who have done more than most to tackle the problem of racism head on, did not immediately issue a statement but were investigating the alleged incident.

In the game itself super-sub David Thompson inspired bottom club Blackburn to a priceless point in the unlikeliest of six-goal thrillers.

Thompson’s dramatic intervention set up second-half goals for Steven Reid and Paul Gallagher which spared Rovers’ blushes in this relegation scrap. Birmingham had travelled north boasting just eight Premiership goals all season and could hardly believe their luck when Darren Anderton, Robbie Savage and David Dunn found the net in the first half after Matt Jansen gave the home side an early lead.

BLACKBURN: Friedel, Neill, Todd, Johansson, McEveley, Reid, Ferguson, Tugay (Thompson 56), Emerton, Dickov, Jansen (Gallagher 45).

BIRMINGHAM: Maik Taylor, Melchiot, Cunningham, Upson, Gray, Anderton (Yorke 74), Johnson, Savage, Dunn (Clemence 80), Gronkjaer, Morrison (Clapham 65).

Referee: N Barry (N Lincolnshire).