Roy Keane "scrambled" to confront Alan Shearer in tunnel during furious bust-up

History has told us Roy Keane is not a man to let a personal grudge go easily.

So it's no real surprise to learn he was keen to reignite his famous feud with Alan Shearer just moments after being shown a red card.

The two Premier League legends clashed in a fixture back in 2001 – decided in Newcastle's favour by a late Wes Brown own goal – when the red mist descended over Keane and he was given his marching orders.

Shearer had been attempting to time waste as the clock ticked down, with Newcastle heading to a comfortable victory.

He then gave Keane a light shove down near the corner flag, before the Man Utd captain threw the ball at him.

Both players then exchanged verbals within reach of each other, when Keane's push evolved into a half-hearted swing at Shearer, only for him to miss his target.

Referee Steve Bennett had no hesitation in reaching for his card, and Keane was dismissed while David Beckham did his best to restrain his teammate from inflicting a further offence.

But it didn't end there.

"When you went from the pitch into the tunnel at St James', there were a set of steps and then you split towards the home or away dressing-rooms," Shearer told the Athletic .

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"When the final whistle went, Roy was standing at the top of the stairs waiting for me.

"I'm pretty sure a few more choice words exchanged, there was some bustling and scrambling, but there were way too many people between us for anything physical to actually happen. That's usually how it pans out in football."

Naturally Keane was disappointed to have been sent off, but it seems he was particularly intent on making it count, rather than it having been for nothing.

What is your favourite player rivalry from the Premier League era? Have your say below.

"I lost my temper, we were losing 4-3, I think, in the last minute," Keane said previously.

"If you're going to get sent off, the worst thing is, I pushed him. If you're going to get sent off you might as well punch him properly because you're going to get the same punishment.

"You might as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb. That's what I was thinking afterwards. It was just a push. It was ridiculous."

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