Strachan gags Saints stars after Souness tunnel bust-up
The Blackburn boss and Saints' coach argued during the south-coast side's 2-0 St Mary's victory and clashed again at the end of a game also marred by Andy Cole's red card and an on-pitch brawl.
The most controversial moment came at full-time when Souness squared up to Rofe the man he sacked when he was Southampton manager in 1996.
As Souness walked down the tunnel, he gestured and shouted at Rofe. The FA are now considering whether to probe the incident and yesterday scrutinised reports from referee Steve Bennett and the match delegate.
Saints' boss Strachan, in a bid to prevent the row affecting his team on the eve of tonight's Carling Cup clash at Bristol City, slapped a ban on anyone at the club talking about the row. He said: "It's taboo there are no questions about it to anyone. I'm not going to say anything about it."
However, skipper Jason Dodd did break ranks and claimed the Souness-Rofe incident meant Leandre Griffit did not get the credit he deserved for a spectacular debut.
The Frenchman, 19, was on the field for just five minutes in his first competitive game for the club when he smacked home a fine strike to clinch the 2-0 success.
Dodd said: "Everyone wants to talk about the so-called confrontation rather than Leandre's great introduction to English football. But I imagine he doesn't read the papers as he's still getting used to English.
"At the time of his goal I didn't realise what a good strike it was. But I saw it on the TV and it was a much better finish than I thought."
Dodd insists the headlines sparked by Souness and Rofe will not affect his team-mates ahead of tonight's trip to Ashton Gate to face Danny Wilson's 11th-placed Second Division side. "The incident has been blown up and the lads know how to deal with it," the captain added. "I don't need to say anything to them."
City first team coach Frank Barlow knows his side have a difficult task on their hands. "It's a nice break (from the league). It's a chance for us to play a Premiership side who are doing exceptionally well," said Barlow.
"It's a big challenge for us to play against opposition we'd usually just see on television."
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