Duncan Ferguson and Jimmy Bullard happily discuss an iconic Premier League moment

Duncan Ferguson and Jimmy Bullard are both cult heroes, but for very different reasons. Two completely different characters, Bullard became a fan favorite during the Soccer AM era for his light-hearted antics, while Ferguson was considered by many to be one of the toughest players – and scariest – of the Soccer AM era, the Premier League.

The pair were involved in one of the Premier League’s funniest iconic moments of 2006. Ferguson, who was weakened by a red card, was sent off while playing for Everton against Wigan after being given a foul. Bullard’s team, Paul Scharner, took it away.

Moments later, Bullard was filmed next to Ferguson asking his fiery opponent:
“Are you Okay?” The midfielder flashed a cheeky smile and shared laughter with his teammates, right in front of the Everton striker, who had previously spent 44 days in jail for assault when he was in his 20s. What did Jimmy Bullard say to Duncan Ferguson in 2006?

Somehow Bullard then decided to go further when Ferguson left the field. Speaking to talkSPORT in June, Bullard recalled:
“When he left I just thought ‘see you in the tunnel over there, Dunc, I’ll see you in the tunnel’.

“So he waited in the tunnel shirtless. I had ten minutes left to play, I looked and Lee McCullough had gone to “watch the tunnel”. I looked and said “oh no”.

Bullard continued:
“The final whistle blew, I was still standing up cheering, all that was left [in the stadium] was a pigeon and a packet of chips. I told myself, I don’t want to go in. He grabbed me by the neck and lifted me up and gave it to me and all the boys ran in and left me.

The former professional footballers met again on a live call on talkSPORT this week and happily discussed that priceless moment from 2006 that is now synonymous with each other. “I can’t believe you have Big Dunc, it’s true,” Bullard said after his presentation.

“I would never take my shirt off now, man,” Ferguson joked. “Remember that a good fighter always chooses his victims. You were a little above your weight class that day!”

When asked by Ally McCoist what he was thinking at the time, Bullard admitted:
“I don’t know what I was thinking until today! [Wigan team-mate] Lee McCulloch said to me: ‘I wouldn’t do it, Jim’. To be honest, I still don’t know Al.”

Ferguson recalls that day when he was suspended for seven games for separate violations. “I was suspended for seven matches that day,” the new Inverness Caledonian Thistle boss said. “I actually got two red cards and I’m happy I never got another red card in the tunnel!”

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Vitaliy Mykolenko will be assessed for injury before Everton take on Luton Town at Goodison Park, according to BBC Sport.

The broadcaster reported (29 September) that the Ukranian could remain in the squad after he was forced off at half-time in the Toffees’ 2-1 League Cup victory against Aston Villa.

Everton will also be without Seamus Coleman, Andre Gomes and Dele Alli as they search for their first home win of the Premier League season.

Even for the relatively-struggling Toffees, a home defeat to Luton Town would be unacceptable.

However, off the back of two exceptional wins, their 3-1 away victory at Brentford and their 2-1 League Cup triumph over Aston Villa, Everton will enter the clash as favourites.

Mykolenko has not had the greatest start to the season and his injury blow at Villa Park just added to his frustrations this season. Despite this, Sean Dyche will be keen to have options and the left-back would have relished the chance to get minutes against a far weaker side.

Both sides have had their issues at both ends of the field. While Everton look to be back to scoring ways, Luton have predictably struggled in the Premier League, managing just one open-play goal in the opening six fixtures.

A League Cup exit to League One to Exeter City added to their woes this season, so Hatters boss Rob Edwards will be desperate to claim anything from this fixture.

However, the Toffees have had their struggles at home this season. They are yet to register a single goal at Goodison Park this season and have suffered defeats in all fixtures.

With Mykolenko potentially out, it just gives Dyche one fewer option to play with, but considering he will be assessed ahead of the clash, he may be in contention for a spot on the bench.