- Stan Collymore was sent off for two bookable offences. Collymore had accused Harkness of racially abusing him nine months previously in a Villa - Liverpool game at Villa Park. Collymore had reportedly told Harkness to he would properly break his leg this time which incensed Harkness who had suffered a broken leg against Coventry. Collymore claimed Harkness called him a "lazy coon." The players threatened suing each other and no truce was made despite PFA's attempts. Now when the sides met again Collymore made a horrifying tackle on Harkness that could have easily broken his leg. Harkness was stretchered off with Collymore escaping with a yellow card. Collymore later got a second yellow for an altercation with Michael Owen.
Collymore claimed he wasn't trying to injure Harkness on purpose:
"I know people are going to make a song and dance about it because it was Steve Harkness. But any suggestion that the tackle involved any form of malice or revenge is totally incorrect. It was the kind of challenge I would make whoever the opponent was. I may as well turn it on its head by saying Michael Owen was looking for me later in the match. I know it was wrong to lift my hands and shove Michael, so I can't complain about being sent off."