SWINDON Town head coach Ben Garner called the reaction of Port Vale fans “disgusting” after his players were subjected to a barrage of abuse at the end of Thursday night’s play-off semi-final second leg.

After Ellis Iandolo missed the all-important spot-kick in the shoot-out, thousands of home supporters broke onto the pitch before a number of people aimed punches and kicks at Town players and staff alike.

READ: Town players attacked by Port Vale fans after play-off defeat

READ: Players acted in 'self protection' under attack by Port Vale fans

Following the abhorrent actions of some Vale fans, Garner fielded a variety of questions from local and national media outlets on the subject.

Adver Sport has listed every question and response from the post-match interview below.

Q: Firstly, are you and all the players back safe and sound in the dressing room?

BG: Just about. There was physical abuse out there, there was verbal abuse. I’m very proud of the players for the restraint they’ve just shown. There is a lad with a cut on his nose, there’s been all sorts of abuse. I just don’t understand it, I don’t know where this is coming from. I’ve seen it in some of the other games recently – disgusting, it’s disgusting.

Q: Is there a wider issue that football is going to have to address (RE fan violence)?

BG: Absolutely. That is dangerous, that is so dangerous. Players were being hit, kicked, spat at, verbally abused. It’s just not on. Fans think they can come on and have a free hit, a free pop, knowing the player can’t react to it. If you did that on the street it would end up in a tear-up. But I’m really proud of how they responded and the class that they showed as they have done all season.

Q: I take it you and your staff weren’t affected by events after the game?

BG: No, there was staff involved as well. It was a free-for-all out there, it really was. I was abused, staff were abused, players were abused – physically and verbally. It’s appalling, it really is.

If a player takes a swing back at someone, he is the one that makes the headlines.

BG: Of course. If a footballer hits back, that would be it for them. They’d be tainted with it for the rest of their career. In any other profession, you wouldn’t have to put up with that abuse so why are they having to put up with it? It’s like a fashion thing. Someone has done it, and now everyone is doing it – it’s just madness. For me, anyone who has gone on that pitch, just ban them. They were told before the game ‘if you come on the pitch then you’ll be banned’ – well follow through on it.

Q: Do you want to see action taken against Port Vale for what happened?

BG: I don’t think there was a ‘coming on to celebrate’, it was a case of coming on for violence and to antagonise. I didn’t see their fans going to their players, they were going to ours. It’s just not on. It needs to be looked at and dealt with quickly. I know (Sheffield United striker) Billy Sharp was headbutted the other night – it’s madness, just absolute madness. I think something needs to be done before something serious happens.

Q: Are the police involved? Have you reported it?

BG: I don’t know at this point.

Q: Do you think the club will?

BG: I don’t see what that’s going to do. If they can get CCTV or other footage and look at those on the pitch and those who resorted to violence then you’d like to think they (the police) will act on it. But that’s out of our hands.

Q: How did you feel in that situation? Did you feel unsafe?

BG: Yeah, I did. The players certainly did. I was just trying to get my players in and out of harms way as quickly as possible. But it was dangerous, and I was also worried that one of the players was going to retaliate. They were heavily, heavily provoked, and you’re just trying to get them in before they do retaliate, and it’s on them, and they become the bad guy.