Leicester City manager Micky Adams has defended Ian Walker after the goalkeeper was involved in an incident with a fan who invaded the pitch during Saturday's 5-0 home premier league defeat by Aston Villa.

Villa scored all five goals in a 20-minute burst early in the second half and the incident occurred just after Darius Vassell got the third in the 60th minute.

The supporter ran towards Walker and the two exchanged words. The England squad goalkeeper then pushed the man in the chest more than once, until he fell to the floor and was then escorted off by stewards.

"I hope no action is taken against Ian," Adams told Sky Sports TV. "First of all the fan shouldn't have been on the pitch. I know he was unhappy but there were 30,000 out there just as unhappy and they stayed in their seats.

"I was worried about the safety of my player because anything could have happened to Ian and certainly he felt threatened by the supporter."

FAN ARRESTED

"He (the fan) has now been arrested for pitch encroachment. He remains in police custody," said a joint statement issued by Leicester City and Leicestershire Constabulary.

"The club and police will be conducting a full review of the incident."

In a separate statement, Walker said: "He (the fan) came up to me and was abusive and aggressive. I tried to push him away and attempted to restrain him while stewards came onto the pitch.

"It goes without saying that everyone connected with the club is bitterly disappointed by this afternoon's result. Our supporters have every right to make their feelings known about our performance and I can understand their frustration, but I don't think acting in this way is going to help the team."

Villa were involved in a similar incident in 2002 when a Birmingham fan ran on to the pitch and taunted Villa keeper Peter Enckelman after he made a blunder in a 3-0 derby defeat by City.

Enckelman did not react and the man was later jailed for four months.

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