Post-match scenes at Vale were absolutely disgusting - Garner
SWINDON HEAD COACH BEN GARNER WAS FULL OF PRAISE FOR HIS PLAYERS AFTER THEIR AGONISING PLAY-OFF SEM-FINAL LOSS AT PORT VALE. MICHAEL BAGGALEY & PETER SMITH REPORT ...
SWINDON Town head coach Ben Garner said his players were physically and verbally abused by Port Vale supporters at the end of their play-off semifinal.
Hundreds of Vale supporters ran on to the pitch after their side won the tie on a penalty shoot-out to reach next Saturday’s League Two play-off final at Wembley against Mansfield.
And Garner said the treatment of his players, as they were trying to get off the pitch, was unacceptable.
He told Sky Sports: “On the balance of it, a draw on the night would have been fair.
“It’s disappointing for that group of players in there after everything they’ve given. The way they’ve conducted themselves, the way they’ve behaved today and what they had to put up with coming off that pitch.
“Players have been physically and verbally abused. I know I’ve seen it in other play-off games. I don’t know where we’re going as a country. It’s absolutely disgusting.”
He added: “It’s frustrating to play a play-off game and the home team are refusing to water the pitch. It doesn’t sit well with me. We can’t control that. We just have to come back stronger next season.”
Vale were 2-1 down from Sunday’s first leg at the County Ground, but levelled on aggregate after eight minutes through James Wilson’s 14th goal of the season.
But the sides
couldn’t then be separated in normal and extra-time before Vale edged the shoot-out, victory that sparked the pitch invasion.
Garner said his team should have had a penalty and Vale’s goal was offside, but he was hugely proud of the effort they had put in all season to reach the play-offs.
He said: “To go 120 minutes without scoring, and we didn’t have our usual threat, that was disappointing.
“But the effort that has been put in has been incredible from those players in that dressing room – the majority of who had no pre-season – and there they are in
the play-offs playing 120 minutes and going all the way to penalties.
“We lacked a little bit of a spark today, but they’ve given everything over the course of the season and I’m so proud of them.”
Sky Sports pundits Sam Parkin, Danny Gabbidon and Matt Taylor emphatically condemned the
post-match scenes that marred Port Vale’s win.
That followed pitch invasions at other grounds this week, including at Nottingham Forest’s home win over Sheffield United when Blades striker Billy Sharp was attacked.
Parkin said: “Incredible momentum swing in the shoot-out. You don’t see that every day. I feel sick for Ellis Iandolo.
“He was the best Swindon performer on the night, a young lad and brilliant young player who will bounce back from this. I feel sick for the Swindon lads and supporters. A real tough one to take.
“It’s a real sore one and four nights on the spin these are real disgusting scenes. I would be saying it if it was on the other foot. We saw players being attacked down by the tunnel. They’ve got to get hold of this.
“We saw Billy Sharp being attacked and again tonight there have been players involved in fracas and it leaves a sour taste.”
Co-commentator Gabbidon was not impressed.
He said: “Unbelievable scenes here at Vale Park. Nothing to separate the teams over the two legs.
“What we’re seeing now, those stewards really need to get the Swindon players down the tunnel and away from some of these fans. Some unsavoury scenes we never like to see. Some Port Vale fans goading those Swindon Town players who are reluctant to get off the field of play.
“Harry Mckirdy was escorted off quickly as a few Port Vale tried to get to him. Unsavoury scenes which will mar a fantastic night for Port Vale.”
Veteran commentator Alan Parry added: “We certainly saw an altercation down on the touchline involving some Swindon players and that is very, very sad after two pulsating, wonderful cup ties.”
There have been pitch invasions after play-off semi-finals all week and the EFL put out a statement only hours previously asking for supporters to behave.