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WANDERERS' defenders have come out fighting after being branded a bunch of cloggers by County boss Jim Gannon.

The outspoken Hatters chief has called for extra protection from referee Andy D'Urso tomorrow after claiming his players were roughed up by Wanderers in last week's first leg.

Gannon said: "We were fortunate because there were one or two challenges on our players which could have resulted in a serious injury.

"Tommy Rowe got clattered in an awful challenge and the referee has to protect the players more.

"If you want good, young players to develop and you want to see good football at this level then the referees must be stronger.

"If they don't then you will see more players in hospital.

"We had a lot of players pick up heavy knocks at Wycombe."

He claimed his centre forward Liam Dickinson was singled out for treatment and accused Wanderers of trying to kick County's 19-goal top scorer out of the second leg - although Dickinson himself came out on County's website saying there was nothing wrong with the treatment he received.

Gannon said: "Liam is covered in cuts and bruises, but he's a durable character. He just shakes challenges off.

"Hopefully seeing him in the starting line-up on Saturday might demoralise the Wycombe centre-halves a little."

But Blues player of the Year Leon Johnson and his central defensive partner Mike Williamson have laughed off the allegation that they are ale-house style centre halves and the stats suggest that the talented duo - who have helped Wycombe to a club record-equalling 19 clean sheets this season - are among the cleanest in the business.

In 66 matches between them this season they have accumulated a combined total of just four bookings.

Johnson, who walked off with the Wanderers' Supporters Player of the Year Trophy in his first season at the club on Tuesday, said: "We're not dirty players. Their manager is trying to be clever and influence the referee for the second leg but hopefully the referee will be strong and won't buckle under the pressure.

"I got an elbow off one of their players but I'm not complaining. It's a physical game and these things happen.

"We never targeted their players for any special treatment, we've played the way we did all season.

"I've hardly been booked this season in 49 games.

"I go in hard but I always try to win the ball. I'm not a dirty player because these days you can't get away with it.

"You don't want to go in and get booked because then you are walking a tightrope."

And he reassured Blues fans that he won't be playing any differently from the form that won him the club's Player of the Year Trophy.

He said: "I'll go out and do what I always do. The referee is there to make decisions and hopefully he will make the right ones."

And Johnno, a free transfer from Gillingham in the summer, says he would trade his Player of the Year shield for promotion.

He said: "I'm very proud to have won it but I would change it for promotion in a heartbeat."

And Johnson, who was part of the Wycombe defence which was slapped 6-0 by Stockport in the league in December, says that result in freak conditions won't have any bearing tomorrow.

He said: "A lot has been made of that game but I always feel it was the game that kick-started our season.

"I wish it had been the first game of the season when we got beat 6-0 because then we would probably have gone straight up without needing the play-offs."

1:12pm Friday 16th May 2008

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