MK Dons boss Karl Robinson admits he feared for the safety of Alan Smith after seeing him attacked by Huddersfield supporters on Tuesday.
Robinson says loan star was punched, kicked and spat at
MK Dons boss Karl Robinson admits he feared for the safety of Alan Smith after seeing him attacked by Huddersfield supporters on Tuesday.
After watching their side secure a 3-2 aggregate success over the Dons to book their place in the League One play-off final, Terriers fans swarmed onto the Galpharm Stadium pitch.
The celebrations threatened to turn ugly as a handful of Huddersfield followers headed straight for Dons loan star Smith.
The former Leeds striker was attempting to applaud the away support as he was subjected to a torrent of abuse.
Punches were then thrown, forcing Robinson, a police officer and ground stewards to come to the aid of the ex-England international.
Robinson told the
Yorkshire Post: "I ran on the pitch to get him off, which I know my wife will kill me for. I grabbed Alan and got him in the tunnel.
Spoiled
"Alan was spat at, punched and kicked, the lot. Alan defended himself. He said it was typical of the reaction he gets at places like this.
"One or two idiots spoiled what was a wonderful spectacle. Huddersfield Town deserve tremendous credit and so do their fans but one or two mean the talking point is not just the game.
"I just wanted him off the pitch and me going on might have calmed it down. I feared for his safety. It is not great.
"English football has moved on enormously over the years and things like this aren't great.
"Alan is a great man and been wonderful for us. It was a nasty end to what has been a wonderful spectacle that we should have won.
"It wasn't hundreds, just one or two mindless idiots. The rest were fantastic."
