The 'aggression' between Newcastle United team-mates Kieron Dyer and Lee Bowyer had been building in the days leading up to their infamous fight.
That's the view of Magpies legend Alan Shearer, who believes the bizarre altercation stemmed from a simmering training ground rivalry.
Dyer and Bowyer came to blows on the pitch at St James' Park and were both dismissed during United's heavy defeat to Aston Villa in 2005.
The incident heaped shame on the club and saw the pair suspended for the FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester United.
Unsurprisingly, the fight featured on BBC Sport's countdown of the "most bonkers" moments in Premier League history, and Shearer recalled his disbelief at watching the scrap unfold in front of his own eyes.
Speaking on the Match of the Day podcast, the Magpies' record goalscorer said: "There was a little bit of aggression shown in training in the couple of days leading up to the game between those two.
"There used to be finishing sessions, and they used to take the p*** out of each other. There was a couple of choice words being said leading up to the game. They were fighting for the same place in the team.
"It was just one of those days, we got battered off Aston Villa. We were already down to 10 men, Steven Taylor got sent off when he handled it and then fell over.
"We're heading towards the end of the game, and there's been a couple of times where Kieron hadn't passed to Lee and I can remember Lee shouting 'pass me that f****** ball'.
"He still never passed to him, and on the last occasion they sort of said something to each other. I just saw them going together and thinking I'm not seeing this right.
"The referee sends them both off, and we're down to eight men. We've been dumped 3-0 and everyone is in disbelief."
Shearer was one of several to make his feelings on the pair clear in the dressing room following the defeat.
However, it was a threat from then-United boss Graeme Souness which perhaps eventually brought both Dyer and Bowyer to their senses.
Shearer added: "We get back into the dressing room and I go beserk.
"The manager comes in and I remember him saying to the both of them 'you two f******, if you want to fight, I'll fight the both of you now!'
"I know who my money would have been on as well."
