Everton skipper Neville plays down Harewood/Agbonlahor spat

Neville broke up the pair when they confronted each other in the dying seconds of Villa's comfortable 2-0 win over the Toffees - a result which lifted them to eighth spot in the Barclays Premier League.

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Substitute Harewood was incensed when Agbonlahor ignored his pleas to play him in behind the Everton defence and instead chose to try to wind down the clock.

The pair exchanged words before Neville's intervention and the former Manchester United star was mystified at their public rant despite insisting such events are a common occurrence in football.

Neville said: "Villa had just won 2-0 so I couldn't understand why they were arguing really. I was in the same hotel as Marlon on holiday in the summer and got to know him quite well. I just pulled him away.

"It is one of those situations where Marlon is desperate to score and so is the other lad (Agbonlahor) and you then have a bit of a go at each other.

"It is the sort of thing which happens every day of the week. It is just one of those things."

Villa manager Martin O'Neill actually backed the approach taken by Agbonlahor in trying to keep possession rather than to try to free Harewood for a run at goal.

He said: "I actually see it from Gabby's point of view. With two minutes to go, we are 2-0 up and you would think the game should be done and dusted so why give the ball away?

"That's what we were taught years and years ago. Why give it away and why put yourself under unnecessary pressure?

"Of course, I can understand a centre forward thinking he might be put through with a chance of a goal.

"But Gabby did the right thing because, if he had lost possession and they had gone down the field and scored, and I had to endure 90 seconds of holding on for the win, I would have choked him!

"In preference to getting a choking, he has decided to do the right thing. They are fine now - I think!"

Agbonlahor said: "Marlon made the point I should have passed to him but I took the ball into the corner.

"Everyone was a bit tense because we under a lot of pressure. It was a misunderstanding. We were all right afterwards. Nothing carried on afterwards."

O'Neill is sweating on the fitness of striker John Carew, who will have a scan later today after suffering suspected knee ligament damage.

The Norwegian international had scored his first domestic goal of the campaign before Agbonlahor sealed victory with his third strike in four games against Everton.

O'Neill said: "We don't know the extent of the damage at the moment but it doesn't look great. He has damaged his ligaments but he will get scanned on Monday.

"It is a shame because the goal was a big boost to his confidence. Regardless of what centre forwards say about doing work outside of the penalty area, and helping people, scoring the goal is a big boost for him."

Everton boss David Moyes admitted: "I have no real complaints about the result. I thought we played better than we have done recently but it was powderpuff stuff really.

"I think the defending for the two goals was terrible. I thought we passed the ball better than Villa on the day but I thought they had more penetration."