Leeds players 'attacked' by fans

Grayson claimed officers failed to protect his players during a pitch invasion (david ashdown)

A police chief defended his force today after Leeds manager Simon Grayson claimed officers failed to protect his players during a pitch invasion at Brunton Park last night.

Carlisle fans ran on the pitch after their side beat Leeds in a penalty shoot-out to book their place in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy final.

After the match, Grayson claimed three of his players had been punched on the pitch

with the Yorkshire club alleging on-loan defender Shane Lowry, Robert Snodgrass and one other player were struck.

He criticised Cumbria police, who arrested 10 fans during the disturbance, telling BBC Leeds: "The police have done nothing about getting our players off quicker or protecting them.

"The stewards have done nothing about it and that's a serious issue for me.

"I'll be taking this further with people involved at a higher level. I'm going to make my feelings well and truly known to the people that matter."

Chief Inspector Mark Pannone, who led the policing operation at the match, said the situation was dealt with "swiftly and robustly".

He said: "We are disappointed by Mr Grayson's comments.

"The policing and the stewarding of the match was conducted in a restrained and professional manner.

"The job of the police is to support the stewards, to prevent disorder and respond to incidents as they occur, which is exactly what we did.

"As soon as the pitch invasion commenced we began working with the stewards to clear the pitch and protect the away fans."

He said the force has not received a formal complaint from Leeds, but the Yorkshire club have said they intend to lodge a complaint with the Football League.

Leeds chief executive Shaun Harvey said: "It is our current intention to make a formal complaint to the football authorities about the apparent lack of security arrangements in relation to the safety of our players at Carlisle.

"It is also our intention to supplement the evidence we already have by having further conversations with both Carlisle United Football Club and the Cumbria Police Force."

Harvey added: "We'd like to offer our congratulations to Carlisle United on reaching the final of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy and we will turn our attentions on the field to our remaining 18 league games and our quest for promotion."

Grayson added: "I'm still very unhappy at the lack of protection afforded to my players and I'm pleased that the club will be taking the matter further with the relevant authorities."

Carlisle's managing director John Nixon said the situation was dealt with "in text-book fashion" and that stewards and police officers worked together to bring the pitch invasion under control "as quickly as possible".