SAM Allardyce is expected to be back in the disciplinary dock after accusing referee, Mike Riley, of 'almost causing a riot' in Saturday's Ewood Park derby.

The Wanderers boss launched a scathing attack on the Leeds official, claiming his handling of the game led to crowd trouble inside the ground.

Blackburn and Bolton fans clashed on the track in front of the CIS Stand in a 70th minute flashpoint as Wanderers, down to ten men following the first half dismissal of Japanese midfielder, Hidetoshi Nakata, held on for a scoreless draw.

After the game Allardyce claimed that Riley, regarded as one of England's top refs, incited the trouble.

"He's nearly caused a riot, when our fans decided to jump over the fence," he said."I don't think that's caused by the players, it's caused by some of the refereeing."

Allardyce, who was fined £1,500 and warned about his future conduct by the Football Association for criticism of Riley's decisions in Wanderers 2-1 defeat by Middlesbrough in 2004 Carling Cup Final, was already facing another censure before he fanned the flames with comments on Sky TV yesterday, suggesting the Yorkshireman's judgment may be impaired.

"I think all managers have probably got one referee who they can pull similar situations with," he said. "Mike Riley has a particularly poor record against us, there has to be something wrong in his make-up against Bolton or against me. It stands up for itself over a period of time.

"He's got something wrong in terms of his subconscious. He has to have."

Wanderers, already depleted by injuries and international calls, had to fight a desperate rearguard action to salvage a point that kept them seventh in the Premiership. It was a gutsy display that drew praise from the manager, who described it as "a fantastic performance" which showed "a real resilience and determination against all odds".

But, in front of TV cameras, he produced statistics he claimed supported his view that there had been a lack of consistency in the referee's performance. He saw no reason why, if Nakata had been sent off, Rovers volatile midfielder, Robbie Savage, should escape unpunished.

"Hidetoshi Nakata committed three fouls and got sent off," he said. "Robbie Savage committed three fouls and didn't get booked.

"And that's nothing against Robbie Savage, or any other Blackburn player.

"The statistics don't stand up, unfortunately, when Mr Riley referees us.

"He's refereed us seven times and we've had five players sent off, four in the first half.

"Those stats say it all, it's blatant inconsistency. In my opinion it's not good enough.

"Then it gets out of hand and the referee loses control and there's people flying all over the place. We've done very well to keep our heads."

Allardyce traces his conflict with referee Riley back to October 2001, in Wanderers' first season back in the Premiership, when he sent off Jussi Jaaskelainen in the 4-0 home defeat by Newcastle for handling the ball outside his area under pressure from Alan Shearer.

But it was the infamous 2-2 draw with Leicester City at the Reebok two months later that earned Riley a permanent place on Wanderers' blacklist. Paul Warhurst and Dean Holdsworth were sent off - ironically both for tackles on Savage - in the first 23 minutes of a game in which Allardyce and rival boss, Dave Bassett, took part in an experiment to test the stresses and straisn on the health of top flight managers. Savage was substituted a minute later, as Bassett explained, for his own protection.

When Riley sent off Bruno N'Gotty for an innocuous foul on West Brom's Jason Roberts early in the 1-1 draw at the Reebok in November the following year, Allardyce raised his objection to the Leeds man being appointed to Bolton games.

His most high profile attack, however, came at Cardiff in February, 2004, when he blamed Riley for Wanderers' Carling Cup defeat, furious that Bolo Zenden's first half penalty was allowed, despite a "double hit", and that Ugo Ehiogu escaped penalty appeals when he handled the ball in the last minute.

"We have always had a problem with Mike Riley in our recent history," he said at the time. "He hasn't been very kind to us, to say the least.

"Unfortunately I have to say that he has lived up to his reputation as far as we are concerned."

*Nakata, who was sent off for two bookable offences, will miss Saturday's home game against Manchester City.

SAM AND RILEY - THE HISTORY

October 13, 2001 - Riley sends off Jussi Jaaskelainen in 61st minute for handling the ball outside his area against Newcastle. One-nil down at the time, Wanderers crash 4-0.

December 29, 2001 - Riley sends off Paul Warhurst (19 mins) and Dean Holdsworth (23) for tackles on Robbie Savage in 2-2 draw with Leicester.

November 9, 2002 - Riley sends off Bruno N'Gotty for innocuous challenge on Jason Roberts in the 20th minute of 1-1 draw with West Brom.

February 29, 2004 - Allardyce pillories Riley after the 2-1 defeat by Middlesbrough in the Carling Cup Final, angered by two penalty decisions.

July 15, 2004 - Allardyce is fined £1,500 and warned as to his future conduct for 'not acting in the best interest of the game' with his comments on Riley's Cup Final performance.

January 14, 2006 - Allardyce accuses Riley of almost starting a riot with his handling of Wanderers 0-0 draw at Blackburn.