Team mate Paul Scholes was also dismissed, for a second yellow card, in stoppage time of a combative Premier League game decided by Duncan Ferguson's 55th minute header.

There was no sympathy from the United manager for Neville after the experienced international was shown a straight red.

"You can't kick a ball at a spectator, not nowadays, and Gary Neville should know that," Ferguson told Sky Sports News.

"Intimidation from supporters is always there, we had plenty of that today. It's a (Liverpool-Manchester) derby game and you are going to get that kind of thing."

The United boss was far more conciliatory towards Scholes.

"Paul Scholes was sent off for a late challenge. How many late challenges were there in that game from Everton players -- it was amazing."

Ferguson also criticised match referee Phil Dowd, saying: "Everton knew it was a weak referee and they exploited that to the full. I don't blame them.

"Right from the first whistle, there was no protection."

United stayed third in the table, four points behind champions Arsenal [Images] who drew 0-0 at champions elect Chelsea.

The runners-up qualify automatically for the Champions League while the third-place finishers have to go through a qualifying round.

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