Newcastle 1-1 Southampton: Pochettino Calls For Calm After Bench Brawl

Mauricio Pochettino advised a need for cool heads after his Southampton bench were involved in an ugly mass brawl with their Newcastle counterparts after a bad-tempered game at St. James' Park. The match itself ended as a 1-1 draw but was somewhat overshadowed by the blown-up argument between Newcastle's goalkeeping coach Andy Woodman and his opposite Toni Jiminez, who was sent to the stands. Yet Saints' Argentinean manager, speaking afterward through a translator, advised caution concerning the spat, defending his bench's overall conduct compared to other Premier League outfits. He said:

"Lets stay calm €“ we need to be calm about what happened today €“ we need to keep it indoors, not make a big thing out of it. I"f there's a committee that has to make a decision about that then we'll wait for a decision and we'll see from there on. "Overall I do have to say that are a lot of other benches in the Premier League that create a lot more of these situations €“ I have to say that it's the first time it's happened to Southampton so the committee should take this into account as well."

The manager went on to say that he didn't really see what sparked the row between the opposing teams, but that his staff would learn from the incident. He said:

"I think what happened at the end of the game was not a good example €“ it was not a good advert for football. "From our point of view we're going to try our best for it not to happen again because it's not good for anyone and not good for the sport. "I think it is avoidable but it's also a high-intensity game so any little thing can lead to something else, I think that's what happened today. "From our point of view it's something we regret and it won't happen again."

The fracas was brought about by a bone-crunching tackle in front of the technical area from Morgan Schneiderlin, but Pochettino defended his player by arguing it was a regular challenge in the English leagues. He said:

"This is football, these things can happen and especially this is English football. It's only normal that these things can happen. "Perhaps in other leagues that tackle will be a bit different but I see it as something that is almost normal in this league. "It's a very aggressive game, it 's a very confrontational game, it takes a lot of energy and intensity, these things can happen and its only normal that it happens here."

Newcastle manager Alan Pardew was similarly philosophical about the incident after the match, saying that the brawl shouldn't be focused on instead of a pulsating game of football. He said:

'Well it wasn't a brawl and it wasn't spoilt but it was kind like panto season and I don't want you to go away with that because it shouldn't take the headlines. "The battle was on the pitch and that was a terrific battle. The one on the sidelines was pretty pathetic, in all honesty."

Much like his opposite number when asked if he'd seen what sparked the brawl, Pardew responded in the negative, but was keen that it stop as soon as possible so he could focus on the football. He said:

"Not really because I had my back to it most of the time and I just said to their manager just get your staff and I'll get my staff and lets get on with it, because I want to have a game, and he was of the same opinion as me."

The former Saints boss was praised referee Mike Jones for not sending off Moussa Sissoko after the midfielder accidentally clipped him while arguing with goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga.

"The ref's had a bloody nose, he's trying to patch himself up, which is fine. He took it in good heart really, I have to say, and he realised it was just a flick out at the goalie."

Newcastle travel to a reVitalised Crystal Palace next week hoping to keep the pressure on the top five, whereas the Saints entertain Spurs hoping for a first win in four.