LEEDS: Newcastle United head coach Eddie Howe has blasted the lack of security at Leeds United鈥檚 Elland Road stadium after he was pushed by a pitch-invading fan.

Midway through the second half of Saturday鈥檚 2-2 draw, Howe was shoved from behind by a home fan in an unsavory incident. The supporter was escorted away by the Magpie鈥檚 own security team before being arrested by police. Leeds are now certain to face a Premier League sanction for their inability to protect playing and coaching staff.

Howe said: 鈥淚 can鈥檛 remember whether he pushed me or not, I鈥檝e got no idea. It was just such a strange thing because you鈥檙e concentrating on the game. It鈥檚 not something you expect to happen.

鈥淗e confronted me and said something that I can鈥檛 repeat and was led away. I think that鈥檚 what happened but someone might tell me different. I鈥檓 OK. Moments like that do make you think 鈥� the safety of staff and players is paramount. We need to be mindful. The security is so important.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 know if I had time to be fearful because it was over in a flash. But certainly it makes you think what if. I think it鈥檚 moments like this that should make people think and analyze things to improve safety for staff and players.

鈥淣o one should have to face that playing a sport they love and trying to entertain the country. No one should have to feel their own personal safety is violated. It鈥檚 certainly something for us to reflect on.鈥�

A win for Manchester United over Wolves, and another for Liverpool, who play Leicester on Monday night, would open up the prospect of all three sides going into the final fortnight of the season with just a point between them.

Newcastle have a game in hand on fifth-placed Liverpool, but pressure is building as the Magpies look to get into the Champions League for the first time in two decades.

Howe said his team was prepared for the race going to the wire and the possibility of having to get points at Chelsea on the final day.

鈥淲ho knows? It鈥檚 difficult to predict anything in football. You鈥檝e seen that today. We鈥檙e prepared for that, if it does. That will be what we have to do.

鈥淚t was a strange game. There were a lot of different feelings from it. At 1-0 down and a penalty down, you鈥檙e fearing the worst at that moment. Nick makes an incredible save and we then managed to get ourselves ahead. Ultimately, we鈥檙e disappointed not to win.

鈥淚 think, maybe, as time goes on, we might think that鈥檚 a really good point for us. I don鈥檛 feel that now, I feel disappointed we haven鈥檛 won. It depends what happens after in our next games. It could be a valuable point.

鈥淐oming here was always going to be a difficult day. The situation Leeds are in 鈥� new manager, style of play, crowd, I think we鈥檝e done OK. We could have played better but it鈥檚 the Premier League. It鈥檚 never easy.鈥�