Fan restrained by security as mass brawl breaks out at end of Championship clash

A Stoke City fan needed to be held back by security after they fell to a late defeat against Hull City.

Stoke went ahead inside 17 minutes through Sorba Thomas but Semi Ajayi brought the visitors level moments into the second half.

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Leeds United loanee Joe Gelhardt then won all three points for Hull in the 90th minute with a composed finish to make it 2-1.

Once referee Josh Smith blew his whistle for full-time, tempers flared between the two sides.

John Lundstram appeared to goad some Stoke fans behind one of the goals by shushing them.

Potters man Ashley Phillips then pushed him away, with Gelhardt and his teammate Kyle Joseph running over to the scuffle.

Television cameras then show a security official pushing back a Stoke fan, who briefly entered the pitch before he was moved behind the advertising hoardings.

Other fans are seen shouting and gesturing towards the Hull players, with objects also being thrown.

Mohamed Belloumi held his hands up as he tried to calm them down.

Both sets of players eventually dispersed and walked away from the stand as the tension simmered down.

What did the managers say?

Speaking after the match, Stoke manager Mark Robins said: “It is what it is. That will be sorted out by the referee.”

Hull boss Sergej Jakirovic added: “I was with their gaffer, then after we tried to calm the situation with the players.

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“But it’s part of the football. Even for me, this is normal.

“You are angry when you lose the game, you are happy when you win the game.”

Referee Smith issued yellow cards to Joseph and Lundstram before they made their way off the pitch.

Defeat for Stoke was the third in their last four matches, and they have missed out on closing the gap on leaders Coventry City.

Hull on the other hand have pushed closer to the Championship play-off spots with their eighth win of the season.