Paolo: No Blame Attached

Paolo Di Canio has exonerated Scott Parker from any blame for the challenge that will probably rule him out for the next four games of the season - leaving him with only the grand finale against Bolton to play in.

"It wasn't a bad tackle," he insists. "I just twisted my knee in the ground on my own. Now the decision is made and it just looks like a few weeks.

"I could be better but I am okay. I was happy to win the game, anyway."

And he is keen to emphasise that the coverage of his disappointment at being taken off against Fulham was blown out of proportion.

He is hardly the only Premiership footballer to show disappointment in the heat of the moment at being substituted - Everton's Jesper Blomqvist and Tottenham's Teddy Sheringham both spring to mind in recent days - but neither of those two attracted the same number of column inches.

And Paolo insists: "They always exaggerate when I say something, and then it turns into a rumour.

"Everything is fine with Glenn. It is not because you are angry one day that you have to stay in a war.

"If something happens it is not an issue and I don't have any problems with Glenn - he is a good lad.

"I hope now we can keep on in this position in the league and finish seventh."