DAVID MOYES leapt to the defence of Phil Neville after his booking for a tackle on Cristiano Ronaldo during the 1-1 draw against Manchester United on Saturday.

The Everton captain won the ball but sent the Portuguese winger sprawling in the process and was shown the yellow card by Alan Wiley.

Neville’s former Old Trafford team-mates Rio Ferdinand and Ryan Giggs confronted him but the episode seemed to upset United’s concentration and moments later they lost the lead.

Marouane Fellaini headed in Neville’s cross to level Darren Fletcher’s early goal, shortly before Ferdinand almost gifted a winner to Yakubu, who hit the post after latching onto the England defender’s feeble back-pass.

The Everton manager was insistent, however, that his side were already getting a grip on the game before Ronaldo’s antics seemed to disrupt their opponents’ rhythm – and believes Neville’s name should not have gone into Wiley’s book.

“I think we were up before that and I was actually worried that it might allow Manchester United to settle the game down,” said Moyes.

“I thought they might have spotted an incident there to take the sting out of us.

“There was no doubt it was a good tackle so Phil shouldn’t, in any way, be getting questioned about it. I don’t think you can rescind a yellow card, can you?

“But I didn’t think for a minute he was going to get a card. Even if he had been a touch late, you would have to say that Vidic’s tackle (on Saha) was a touch late as well.

“I heard a right crack, I was worried (for Louis) when I saw it, I thought something had gone. Did I think Neville was going to get a red card? No, I didn’t.

“I thought he might have been a touch late in getting there when I first saw it, but now I’ve had a chance to see it again he was spot on.

“There should be a few (of their players) going to Phil Neville saying, ‘Hey, we got that wrong, good tackle lad’.

“The worst tackle in the game was no doubt Vidic on Louis Saha. We had Tim Cahill sent off in a similar area of the field (against Liverpool) and are you telling me that his warranted a red and that one warranted a yellow?”

Moyes refused to be critical of Ronaldo for his reaction, even though his over-the-top rolling around could have influenced Wiley’s decision.

“You’re asking me to get involved in things which I really don’t want to,” Moyes added.

“All I can say is that, at the time, I wasn’t sure if Phil had been a second late, but since I’ve seen it, it’s clear it was a terrific tackle.

“It was a spot-on tackle from an honest professional who was determined to try and get his result today and that for me was great to see.

“I like players who wear their heart on the sleeve and he certainly does for us.”

That tough competitive streak allowed Everton to prevent United getting clear in a game that they initially dominated.