- Mauricio Pochettino and Eddie Howe criticised Chelsea fan who invaded pitch
- The fan confronted Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka at Stamford Bridge
- Roy Keane can be a pantomime villain, but you can never accuse him of faking it. He couldn’t hide his simmering irritation – It’s All Kicking Off
The police and Chelsea launched an investigation after a fan entered the pitch and confronted Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka before the Blues clinched a 4-2 penalty shootout victory to reach the Carabao Cup semi-finals.
The supporter ran on from the Matthew Harding stand and barged into Dubravka seconds after Mykhailo Mudryk’s injury-time equaliser which forced penalties.
Mauricio Pochettino condemned the incident and Eddie Howe, who himself was assaulted by a supporter at Leeds last season said: ‘I have always said that the safety of players, coaches, managers, referees, linesmen that’s the priority in any football match so more has to be done to keep especially irate supporters away from the pitch.’
Pochettino said: ‘We need to be careful. The fans need to be careful with this type of thing because it’s a thing that can put in danger the players. I’m disappointed. I don’t agree with this type of thing that happened here in Stamford Bridge and in other stadiums in England or around the world. It’s always disappointing with this type of thing because it’s dangerous.’
Chelsea looked to be heading out after gifting Callum Wilson a first-half goal following a catalogue of defensive errors.
A Chelsea fan was seen confronting Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka after Chelsea scored their equalising goal during the Carabao Cup clash on Tuesday night
Dubravka attempted to push the pitch invader away after he ran towards the goalkeeper
The Magpies keeper looked bemused as the home supporter scurried back to the stands
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino crticised the supporter who entered the pitch
They were unable to find a way through until Trippier gifted Mudryk his goal when he misjudged Malo Gusto’s cross.
Trippier then blasted his spot-kick wide before back-up goal-keeper Djordje Petrovic saved the decisive effort from Matt Ritchie to send Chelsea through.
Trippier’s contribution to Newcastle crashing out continued a month to forget for England defender who also made two costly errors against Everton and was tormented on his recent return to Tottenham.
But Howe rallied around the right-back, saying: ‘Tripps is an incredibly strong character. A transformative signing that’s taken the group to a totally different level. Been the heartbeat of that. He has given us so much now is our turn to look after him an support him the other way and that’s what we will do.’
The equaliser, and what it meant, was a big one for Mudryk, just his third goal for Chelsea while his tie-winning save was a significant moment for Petrovic, deputising for injured first choice Robert Sanchez.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe was also critical saying that more needs to be done to stop fans entering the pitch
Chelsea booked their place in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup after the shootout victory
He said: ‘I don’t feel pressure because they need to score and I can be the hero. I just did my job.’
Pochettino added: ‘The most important thing in football was to believe to the end and it was possible [to win] because we kept believing. Our objective before the game was to go through to the semi-final and we are there.
‘These type of games are important [for the group].
‘I am so pleased because when you see the whole squad were involved, even those injured wanted to share the happiness afterwards. We look like a healthy squad and in time we will create a team which can compete for trophies.’
