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Morrison and Zaha bury the hatchet

ESPN staff
October 17, 2013
Ravel Morrison scored a double against Lithuania © PA Photos
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England under-21 coach Gareth Southgate hopes there will be no repeat of the on-pitch bust up between Ravel Morrison and Wilfried Zaha which happened during Tuesday's 5-0 win over Lithuania.

The two players were involved in an altercation after Zaha berated Morrison for repeatedly failing to pass to him. The two players made up and shook hands before boarding the team bus at Ipswich's Portman Road, and while that matter is believed to be resolved, Southgate is eager to ensure team spirit remains strong.

Morrison has finally put years of off-field problems behind him this season to make an impression in the Premier League with West Ham, scoring a fine solo goal in the club's 3-0 win at Tottenham and netting a double in the victory over Lithuania.

"It's my job to bring them together as a group, which is going to be a test. We spoke about being a team before the game," Southgate explained in the Daily Telegraph.

"We know the potential of the group of individuals. The key now is how we come together as a team and that will take time because there is a lot of focus on individuals. Sometimes there is pressure on individuals and one or two of those had a point to prove and did that very well."

The warring parties were separating by Norwich City's Nathan Redmond, who confirmed the players had buried the hatchet at full time.

"It was just a bit of a disagreement, nothing else," Redmond said. "We got back in the changing room and sorted it out. You get that with teams everywhere, there is just a bit more of spotlight on this incident because it was for England. We sorted it out behind the scenes.

"Rav's a class player, sometimes he just has to move the ball a little bit quicker. Sometimes you do get a little bit frustrated with him but you just have to let Rav be Rav because of the things he is capable of."

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