O’Neill focuses on Pompey after Reo-Coker row

ASTON VILLA manager Martin O’Neill has demanded all the focus at Villa Park is on today’s clash with struggling Portsmouth and not his training ground bust-up with midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker.

Reo-Coker was sent home from training yesterday for disciplinary reasons with reports indicating he had a disagreement with O’Neill in training on Thursday.

When the former West Ham player arrived for training yesterday, he was told to stay away until Monday.

O’Neill said: “There was a confrontation between Nigel and myself. It usually happens between players.

“There were no fisticuffs. There was no wrestling to the ground as reported in one newspaper. That was a figment of the onlookers’ imagination.

“There was enough for me to treat the incident seriously. Nigel will not play against Portsmouth and come Monday it will be forgotten about.

“I make the rules. I am the manager and custodian of the football club so my rules apply. Players have to get used to my rules. It’s as simple as that.”