Everton's Phil Neville: Sorry for diving

The former Manchester United defender was visibly embarrassed by his own behavior both when he received his booking and then in his post-match interview. He told reporters:

“I apologised after game for my dive got a rollicking off gaffa won’t happen again-end of.”

His manager David Moyes will have been most unimpressed with his ‘dive’ in light of the comments he’d made prior to the derby fixture surrounding the issue of diving with specific reference to Liverpool’s Luis Suarez who has brought the driving debate back into the foreground in recent weeks.

Moyes had said before the game,

“People are going to turn away if they continue to watch people throw themselves on the ground.”

I expect Moyes’ recoiled as he saw his captain booked for simulation as he clearly went to ground untouched just before half time at Goodison Park.

To add insult to injury, Suarez then fired a deflected shot into the back of Everton’s net to earn his side a 1-0 lead in the first half. He celebrated by running over to the dugout, right in front of David Moyes, and taking a diving leap in the air landing with a huge grin on his face.

Neville continued,

“It was a stupid thing to do. I don't often find myself in that position and I thought Daniel Agger was going to take me out.”

Agger, after proclaiming his innocent for the ‘challenge’ then slapped Neville on the back and laughed when the skipper received his caution. Neville put his head in his hands and looked skyward for answers but at least he’s had the decency to admit his indiscretion and apologize.

Synonymously, his manager was candid and addressed the incident in his post-match interview. He said,

“I said to him it's completely wrong, you don't do that.”

His brother Gary Neville, on the Sky punditry panel, also found it difficult to avoid the incident. He covered his face with his hands and laughed uncomfortably upon seeing a replay of the ‘challenge’.