THEY say nobody is infallible, and footballers are no different. Two of the modern players I most admire made mistakes this week – big mistakes.

Typically, however, both were smart enough to spot their errors, and man enough to try to rectify them as quickly as possible.

It is perhaps strange for an Evertonian like myself to confess my admiration for a man whose very name is synonymous with the red half of Merseyside, as Steven Gerrard’s is. Or, indeed, to profess my deep respect for a man who has won sackfuls of trophies at Manchester United, as Phil Neville (inset) has.

Neville, for me, typifies everything that is good about Everton FC. He is humble, hard-working, respectful and professional. And his embarrassment – shame, even – over his yellow card for diving was plain for all to see last Sunday.

It would have been easy for him to hide, but he fronted it out in front of the TV cameras, held his hands up, and apologised unreservedly for his error. How refreshing to see a modern-day football figure taking his medicine in such a manner.

Similarly, Steven Gerrard realised quickly that his comments comparing Everton to Stoke were, at best, ill-advised, at worst downright wrong.

But again, he could not have been more frank in his apology, and his words, heart-felt as I believe they were, should help draw a line under an issue that had the potential to get a little out of hand.

Just as an aside, incidentally, I afforded myself a smile at the “long ball” element to Steven’s comments. I am sure that most Evertonians were terrified in the 91st minute as the Liverpool skipper prepared to launch a high ball towards three towering centre halves in the penalty area. It’s a tactic Tony Pulis has used on more than one occasion!