X Factor reject Rikki Loney defended his mentor Cheryl Cole after she suggested that the Grimes twins should have been axed from the show rather than him.

Mentor: Cheryl Cole was responsible for Rikki Loney

Judge Cole told the audience: "I can't believe John and Edward are still here and he's (Rikki) going home."

X Factor Blog: Does Cheryl Cole deserve such praise for her performance?

But Scottish crooner Loney, who was given the chop after performing Aretha Franklin's Respect, said she was not being vindictive towards the twins, she was simply being "supportive" of him.

"I think it was just based on the feedback from the public the night before. I don't think it was meant in any sort of bad way. If it was, she would take it back," he said.

"I think she was just being supportive of her boys. I don't think she meant it in any sort of malicious way in the slightest," he added.

The 21-year-old was axed after finding himself in the bottom two with Rachel Adedeji and said he was "obviously upset" to leave the show.

But he praised Cole's efforts, saying: "Cheryl is honestly one of the nicest people I've ever met in my life. She's just so genuine and so real because she went through the experience herself.

"She worries about things - there's nothing fake or unreal about her in the slightest. (She's) really, really supportive as well. She just made sure that we were happy with our performance and our song choices - she'd go through pointers of what we should and shouldn't do."

He also denied suggestions that Cole was too distracted by her own performance of new single Fight For This Love to focus on her acts. She now has just Lloyd Daniels and Joe McElderry left in the contest.

"We've had the exact same time with her as we had last week. She's given the exact same support - you know, she performed that song many times, so I don't think it would affect her this week. I think she was obviously nervous about performing," he added.

The Glasgow-born singer said he gave the contest his all.

"You know, I've done well on Saturday night with the song I was given," he said. "How can you change such a massive hit into something different? It's been a trademark song for Aretha Franklin. It was difficult, but I did the best I could.

"Out of all the performances I thought maybe that I might have been saved, but it didn't connect with everyone at home, and I was put out."

Asked if a different song choice could have changed his fate, he noted: "Yeah, possibly, but what will be will be. I can't really think back on 'What if?'. I'd never get very far if I did."

He explained that it was difficult for the male contestants because the songs in the "Diva" edition of the show were so closely associated with female voices.

"I took a challenge and a risk - and unfortunately, it didn't appeal. The boys found it really difficult this week, just because it's 'diva songs' and because they're massive songs sung by massive artists. How do you obviously keep the original identity without changing it too much? That's difficult for a guy."

Loney is now backing the other boys to win the series, but he vowed to continue singing.

"This is actually my fourth time on the show - that's why people thought maybe I was a bit wet and maybe a bit emotional, but it was because it's not just my first time," he said.

"I'm really, really grateful that I've been given this opportunity and am thankful for it. I've learnt to stay positive and believe in myself a bit more," he said.