Coyle plays down Ferguson spat

01 April 2010 15:29
olton boss Owen Coyle is sure there has been no lasting damage to his relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson after their spat earlier this week.[LNB] Following Bolton's 4-0 defeat to Manchester United on Saturday, Coyle complained of a "terrible challenge" from Nemanja Vidic on Johan Elmander.[LNB]The Sweden striker was floored by an elbow from Vidic that left him with blood pouring from a head wound which required six stitches.[LNB]That prompted a sharp riposte from Ferguson, who said: "What is the old saying about people in glass houses?[LNB]"When Nemanja Vidic came off at half-time he had a lump on his head the size of an egg, his cheek was swollen and he had a black eye."[LNB]Coyle, who had eulogised about Ferguson being "the best manager in the world, and a role model for anybody in football," before the game, insists he and his fellow Scot have not fallen out.[LNB]Asked if he had spoken to Ferguson since, Coyle said: "To be honest, I don't know why I would hear from him.[LNB]"We sat and spoke after the game, as we always we do, and that was it. What happened, happened and you move on.[LNB]"Whatever anybody wants to say is up to them. The game was last week and for me it's finished with. I've moved on.[LNB]"You get nothing out of looking back at what happened last week. It won't affect anything now. Saturday night was closure on it."[LNB]Elmander has at least been cleared to play ahead of Saturday's Premier League clash with Aston Villa at the Reebok Stadium.[LNB]Coyle is grateful his forward, who has scored just five goals for Bolton all season, has suffered no lasting effects.[LNB]"He had six stitches and we had to nurse him a little bit at the start of the week," Coyle added.[LNB]"But he is fit to play, available, and I'm sure he will look to do his best."[LNB]A doubt, though, hangs over defender Paul Robinson who missed the United game with an ankle injury.[LNB]Coyle added: "We're hoping he will train at some point ahead of the game on Saturday.[LNB]"He'll certainly have to to be in contention, so we'll look at that one."[LNB]Fellow defender Gretar Steinsson is available after he sat out the loss to United through suspension following his red card in the 2-0 defeat at Everton a week earlier.[LNB]Coyle still has five key players out with long-term injuries in Stuart Holden, Chris Basham, Gavin McCann, Sean Davis and Joey O'Brien.

Source: Team_Talk