EDDIE HOWE has insisted Newcastle United’s players and staff were “standing up for themselves” as they became embroiled in a ’20-man melee’ during the half-time interval of this afternoon’s win over Aston Villa at St James’ Park.

Newcastle triumphed 3-0 in a heated affair that saw Villa have to play for almost an hour with ten men after Jhon Duran was sent off for stamping on Fabian Schar.

Unai Emery reacted furiously to incident, rowing on the touchline with both the fourth official and Newcastle assistant manager Jason Tindall, and the ill-feeling spilled over into the tunnel during half-time.

A major altercation involved players and staff from both sides, and resulted in Tindall being sent to the stands along with Villa’s lead analyst, Victor Manas.

It remains to be seen whether the Football Association decide to take further action, with both clubs at risk of being found guilty of failing to control their players and staff.

Amazon Prime, who were screening the game, described the half-time incident as a “20-man melee”, and when asked whether or not that was fair, Howe said: “I don’t think that’s far off. These things always start without the intention of it happening in the way that it did.

“There were probably 17 or 18 people trying to calm it down, so what it then looks like is that more people are involved. No one wants to see that. It’s not at all how I want my players or staff to be, but sometimes you have to stand up for what you think is right and protect each other.

“I’m not 100 per cent sure what sparked it all because it goes over in a blur. I was right at the top of it. I think frustration is spilling out (from the Villa camp) from what happened in the first half.

“I saw plenty, but I don’t know the actual details of why (Tindall) was sent off. That would need some clarification for me because I think if you’re going to send one off, you could probably send ten to 15 people off. So, I’m not quite sure of what he’s been charged with.”

Emery was adamant Duran should not have been sent off, insisting the Colombian did not intentionally stamp on Schar after the Swiss centre-half slid in to rob him of possession.

Howe had only seen the incident in real time when he spoke to the press, but the Newcastle boss accepted Anthony Taylor’s decision to brandish a straight red card was harsh.

“I haven’t seen all the replays, genuinely,” said the Newcastle boss, whose side climbed to fifth in the table thanks to their fourth successive win in all competitions. “I’ve seen it once, and that was live.

“I thought it was maybe harsh, that was my gut feel. I was a little but surprised the red card came out, but someone with a better view will tell me their opinion, I’m sure.”