Stuart McCall today admitted being involved in 'verbals' with Wimbledon's Welsh international striker John Hartson before Sunday's crucial Premiership match at Valley Parade.

But the Bradford City skipper denied media reports that there had been a brawl between the players as they lined up in the narrow dressing corridor before running on to the pitch.

According to some reports referee Jeff Winter warned Hartson about his behaviour and is said to have threatened to send him off before the match even began.

The player is reported to have pleaded with him to be allowed to start the match, but Hartson's pre-match behaviour may be included in Winter's report to the FA.

Hartson was eventually sent off in the second half for verbally abusing a linesman after Peter Beagrie put City 2-0. McCall said: "John Hartson was just trying to wind up his own team. I think he got carried away a little bit. He was obviously psyched up for the match and trying to get the old Wimbledon Crazy Gang spirit going.

"It was frustrating for him to see the club where they are near the bottom of the table, especially when he had been out injured for four months.

"It was mainly him trying to get the team going for the big match, but we have experience in our side not to be intimidated by that sort of thing.

"The dressing room corridor at Valley Parade is so narrow the players are bound to be close to each other as they line up before the run on to the pitch, but there was no physical contact between the players, just a lot of shouting.

"I heard John Hartson say 'this lot don't fancy it' but we have got enough experience to cope with that sort of comment.

"The referee warned him to keep quiet, but I think he just wanted to get the players out on the field as quickly as possible."

City chairman Geoffrey Richmond said: "We were aware of what happened and what is described in the national press is accurate in my understanding.

"We won't be doing anything about it ourselves. We are quite happy to leave the matter to the match officials."

Wimbledon's Press and PR manager Reg Davis said: "We have no comment to make at this stage, but I expect there will be some comment later in the day."

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