Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill insists his training-ground spat with Nigel Reo-Coker has been consigned to history, and claimed: "I'm too old to start holding grudges now."

Reo-Coker was left out of the squad for the game with Portsmouth following the bust-up between the duo at Bodymoor Heath in mid-September. However, proof the incident is long forgotten came when O'Neill made Reo-Coker skipper for the clash with Bolton on Saturday in the absence of the injured Stiliyan Petrov.

I felt, if he's going into the side, he might as well burden himself with the extra responsibility as captain as well, and I thought he acquitted himself really well.
Martin O'Neill on Nigel Reo-Coker

O'Neill said: "I thought that Nigel should receive the armband. He's been captain before when Stiliyan Petrov's missed out and when other people have. I felt, if he's going into the side, he might as well burden himself with the extra responsibility as captain as well, and I thought he acquitted himself really well.

"Was it an excellent piece of man-management? I'm too old to start holding grudges now. Perhaps, when I was at Nigel's age, I probably would have done. But I'm too old and, for the benefit of the team, it's not that important."

O'Neill added: "Nigel and myself had a bit of a spat. It's over and done with. It was quite some time ago. The opportunity arose to put him into the side and, as I said, he might as well take the extra responsibility.

"There isn't, as far as I am concerned, anything to take on into the future again. What will be, will be, like everything else, but I just want players to come in here and give everything for this football club and try and win games in this league because it's hard for us."