BLACKBURN manager Mark Hughes hailed the heroics of Brad Friedel after the Rovers keeper saved two penalties in Saturday's 0-0 draw with Sheffield United.

Friedel was in unbeatable form at Bramall Lane, first denying David Unsworth from the spot, and then United striker Rob Hulse, during a crazy final 20 minutes.

Amid the mayhem, Rovers were also awarded a penalty of their own by referee Mike Dean, which Lucas Neill failed to convert.

In the end, however, Hughes was relieved to escape from South Yorkshire with a point and a first clean sheet of the season, particularly after such a bizarre refereeing performance.

Reflecting on the second United penalty, which was dubiously awarded in the 86th minute for what Mr Dean interpreted as a handball by Lucas Neill, the Rovers boss said: "When that decision was given I thought our luck had run out, but thankfully Brad Friedel saved us again.

"He was excellent all day, not just for the penalty saves, and I know I wouldn't swap him for any other keeper in the Premiership.

"Under the circumstances we are delighted to get something out of the game."

Rovers have now conceded four penalties in their opening four matches of the season - remarkably three of which have been saved by Friedel.

The one he failed to keep out was against Chelsea a fortnight ago, when Andre Ooijer was ruled to have fouled John Terry, enabling the champions to emerge 2-0 victors.

Hughes believes the decision in that game played some part in Dean's thinking on Saturday, in particular due to the new directives from the Football Association highlighting contact in the area.

"I thought ours was a penalty because Benni McCarthy was looking at the ball as it came into the box when he was then pushed from behind by Unsworth," added Hughes.

"But for us it's the second game running we have been pulled up with this new directive on holding in the box, which I feel is making things very difficult for referees.

"The type of challenge for which he has given a penalty is something you see time and time again in penalty areas all over the country.

"Unfortunately we were involved in a high-profile game against the champions a couple of weeks ago when a similar decision was given against us and maybe that was in the referee's mind on this occasion.

"He has obviously seen that and sometimes in the heat of the game things like that pop into your mind."

Friedel also felt the penalty decisions were harsh.

"I don't want to be hard on the officials because they have got difficult decisions to make. It really isn't easy for them. But for the second one, the linesman couldn't even see the ball because Lucas had his back to him.

""I thought our one was also a little bit soft as well."