MK Dons manager Karl Robinson has revealed that Alan Smith was attacked during a pitch invasion that followed their League One playoff semi-final defeat to Huddersfield Town.
Thousands of fans swarmed the pitch at the Galpharm Stadium after Simon Grayson's men booked their place at Wembley, despite losing 2-1 courtesy of the former Leeds United man's last-minute goal.
Robinson was forced to break up the scuffle that erupted after Smith had reacted to a punch that was thrown at him by a fan.
"Alan was spat at, punched and kicked, the lot," Robinson told the Yorkshire Post. "Alan defended himself. He said it was typical of the reaction he gets at places like this. One or two idiots spoiled what was a wonderful spectacle.
"Huddersfield Town deserve tremendous credit and so do their fans but one or two mean the talking point is not just the game. It wasn't hundreds, just one or two mindless idiots. The rest were fantastic
"I feared for his safety. English football has moved on enormously over the years and things like this aren't great. It was a nasty end to what has been a wonderful spectacle that we should have won."
Smith arrived at Stadium mk on loan from Newcastle United in the January transfer window.