Defiant Kuyt plays down horror tackle

DIRK KUYT defended his X-rated challenge on Phil Neville and insisted referee Mark Clattenburg was right not to send him off during Saturday’s explosive Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.

David Moyes, the Everton manager, was angry Kuyt was still on the pitch when the Dutchman settled an absorbing and highly controversial encounter from the penalty spot in stoppage time.

Kuyt, who had already opened his Premier League goal account for the season by converting a dubious penalty after Steven Gerrard was adjudged to have been fouled by Tony Hibbert, escaped with a yellow card after his two-footed lunge on Neville.