POLICE, CHELSEA LAUNCH PROBE AFTER PITCH INVADER CONFRONTS NEWCASTLE GOALIE
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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.
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.
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