Pardew apologises over Neville spat
West Ham manager Alan Pardew apologised to Everton’s England midfielder Phil Neville after they exchanged words and rude gestures in a distasteful touchline clash during the 2-2 draw at Upton Park.
Everton had been awarded a freekick when trailing 2-1 in the 54th minute. Neville ignored Pardew and rushed to retrieve the ball as it rolled out to play.
There was an exchange of words and both men raised a hand to insult each other in front of watching England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson among the 34,866 crowd.
Pardew said afterwards: “I am a bit disappointed with myself and I have apologised to him (Neville) on that.
“It was just the emotion of the moment and it was right in front of me.”
The incident added some spark to the game and not long afterwards West Ham’s Anton Ferdinand and Everton’s Mikel Arteta figured in an ugly clash which ended in both being booked as other players rushed in.
Pardew could face some questions from the Football Association over his spat with Neville even though referee Mike Riley did not have to intervene before it was cleared up.
The Hammers boss was frustrated enough after his team suffered a major dent in their Champions League ambitions.
Marlon Harewood gave them an early lead and Dean Ashton restored it after Leon Osman’s 18th-minute equaliser but James Beattie’s goal in the second half earned a point for Everton and ended West Ham’s run of five Premiership wins in a row.
Pardew admitted: “It was a below par performance from us but there was some good things happening in the first half when we had two good finishes.
“In the end though we got out of jail only because one of our defenders, Danny Gabbidon went beyond the call of duty and saved the winning goal a yard from the line. It stopped us getting beat”
Pardew sang the praises of new £7million striker Ashton.
He said: “He was outstanding for us. He showed touch and finesse and a top draw finish. He did some Teddy (Sheringham) like things even though some of the knocks he got in the game eventually took the steam out of him.
“We faced a good side and did some positive things in the first half but then we lost our way a bit in the second.
“I think Paul Konchesky was good at left back despite our sub-par performance. We are a good side really but this sort of thing can happen.”
Everton boss David Moyes said: “We played well throughout but I am disappointed we lost two goals so early.
“West Ham were up the park for the first time when they scored their first - and up the park again for a second.
“You think it is going to be some game after that and you need a barrel load of goals to win it.
“But I challenged our lads to come back and, all credit to them, they did - especially in the second half.
“We have not done that too often this season and I was delighted but I thought three pints would have been a fairer reflection of our performance than just one.
“James Beattie we got here to score goals and he is doing that now but I would like more all around.
“I thought Phil Neville gave the ball away too much in the first half but in the second his performance turned things for us when he became more and more influential – a great professional.”
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