Newcastle coach Terry McDermott has branded Liverpool striker Craig Bellamy "a little upstart" over their tunnel dispute at Anfield.
The former Liverpool and Newcastle midfielder launched a scathing attack on the 27-year-old after the pair clashed following last night's game between the two clubs.
McDermott claims Bellamy, who left Newcastle after a fall-out with then manager Graeme Souness, provoked the incident by repeatedly called him names.
McDermott said: "I was talking to the referee. It had nothing to do with anyone else and I take exception to little upstarts like him.
"I do not like it when people like to think they are bigger than clubs.
"When he was at Newcastle, he thought he was a big cheese. Everywhere he has been, he has been in bother and it is all starting again at Liverpool.
"There was no need for it at all and he was 100 per cent out of order."
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez later dismissed the confrontation as a storm in a teacup but McDermott revealed what went on after Liverpool's 2-0 victory.
He told the Newcastle Evening Chronicle: "I was upset that we had lost the game in the way that we did.
"We felt that at the start of the second half we should have had two stonewall penalties, something which was backed up by the TV replays and in the first instance by Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez.
"I was talking to the referee at the edge of the tunnel when Bellamy appeared on the scene and suddenly started calling me names.
"I thought he was just joking and I put my arm around him, but he kept on calling me names and that is when it all kicked off.
"I had my say and when he got to the top of the stairs, he started shouting at me again. But of course he had security guys around him."
Bellamy left St James' Park under a cloud, first on loan to Celtic and then to Blackburn in a permanent switch after trying the patience of Souness once too often.
McDermott was a member of Souness' coaching staff and made no secret of his view of the Welshman's behaviour.
Bellamy was taunted throughout the game by the travelling fans, and is assured of an interesting welcome when the Merseysiders head for St James' Park on February 10th. PA
