CELESTINE Babayaro has accused Youri Djorkaeff of play-acting to get him sent off.

The Chelsea defender was red-carded for an alleged elbow on the French World Cup winner in Saturday's 1-1 draw at the Reebok Stadium.

"He's an experienced player and one who will do anything to win a game," Babayaro told the London Evening Standard.

"As soon as I left the pitch he stood up and carried on with the game."

But earlier this week Djorkaeff told this website:

Ref was right says Djorkaeff

YOURI Djorkaeff says referee Mike Dean was right to show Chelsea's Nigerian full-back Celestine Babayaro the red card in Saturday's Reebok flashpoint.

The Wanderers' skipper was felled in the 76th minute by an off-the-ball challenge missed by the Wirral official but spotted by his assistant.

"I got an elbow," Djorkaeff confirmed. I think he (Babayro) was stupid to do what he did. The ball was in the air.

"I think the referee did very well."

Chelsea have stated their intention to appeal against the dismissal and have asked Bolton to co-operate by providing video footage.

Nigerian international Babayaro insists any contact with former Inter Milan star Djorkaeff was not intentional and hopes video evidence will help clear him.

"The video shows I did not intentionally elbow him. That's what he is saying, but if you look at the video you can see my eyes were on the ball," Babayaro added.

"It was a goal-kick from Jussi Jaaskelainen and I was positioning myself to head the ball away.

"Then suddenly Djorkaeff was lying on the floor holding onto his face.

"The linesman on the left-hand side had his flag up and after a chat with the referee he decided to send me off.

"As soon as the players came back to the dressing room I said, I'm going to appeal against that. It's not on, I didn't touch him.'

"If I had touched him, he wouldn't have been able to stand up as soon as I had returned to the dressing room. He would have been lying there for a few minutes."

Unless his red card is rescinded, Babayaro will miss at least two league fixtures and a Worthington Cup tie or three Premiership matches.

He said: "I need to appeal against that because I can't be out of the team now that they're doing really well.

"We're winning games home and away, are fourth in the Premiership and I don't want to miss out on that. If I get a three-match ban, then that would be too much."