Paul Devlin backs former foe Marcus Bent

In his book, Warnock said: "They had a confrontation on the pitch and were still slagging each other off in the dressing room after the game.

"Marcus put his face next to Devlin's and yelled at him. Uh-oh, I thought, shouldn't do that. But it was too late.

"Devlin tilted his head back and butted him. Smashed his nose. Blood everywhere. It was brilliant."

Speaking for the first time about the altercation, Devlin told the Sunday Mercury that it was a "one-off" and that he otherwise got on well with Bent at United.

"We had a little bit of an altercation after a cup game against Colchester I think it was," recalled Devlin. "I'm the biggest moaner there is and we were having a bit of an argument because he shot when I thought he should have passed.

"It continued in the dressing room and we got a bit carried away and traded a few punches but it was no worse than you get on most training grounds every week.

"I don't know why Neil Warnock made a big deal of it other than to get a bit of publicity for his book.
"Other than that one time me and Marcus got on fine."

Devlin believes Bent, who joined Blues in a £1 million-plus deal from Charlton earlier this month, will be a key figure in the club's bid to bounce back to the Premier League.

"I think he'll be a very good addition," said Devlin, who will turn out for Sutton Town in the Southern League Division One Midlands next season.

"He's got a bit of everything really as a forward. He's strong, got good ability and he's got pace as well."