HEADING into this weekend's game against Burnley, preparing his team and thinking about how to get the best result for Newcastle United on the day will have been at the forefront of Eddie Howe's mind. However, events this week only caused more concern for the Magpies head coach. 

Pitch invasions have been the talking point of the week after a number of unsavoury incidents have broken out following games. Earlier in the week, Nottingham Forest fan Robert Briggs was sent jailed for assaulting Sheffield United striker Billy Sharp following their Championship play-off semi final win. 

Several more incidents have been caught on camera as Crystal Palace manager Patrick Vieira was caught up in an altercation after being goaded by Everton fans following their 3-2 loss that saw the Toffees confirm their Premier League status. 

With relegation looming large over Burnley, a win on Sunday would see them secure Premier League safety for another season prompting the possibility of a pitch invasion at Burnley. 

Footballing authorities have been called to take tougher action in order to maintain the safety and the health of players, staff and officials but the worry is that an extreme event may well lead to that.

“I am concerned, I'm concerned for the safety of everyone connected with both teams because it's not something we want to see on a regular basis" said Howe. 

“The safety of players, referees, managers, coaches is paramount, but we have a find a way to guarantee that safety. We're there to do a job to the very best of our abilities, but we shouldn't have to be dealing with scenes that we're seeing at the end of games.

“The scenes at Nottingham Forest, I thought, were shocking to see and at Everton as well. I think we're going into dangerous territory where something could happen in a game that has terrible consequences, and I don't think anyone would want to see that.

“I think the authorities have to act quickly to make sure we make the grounds as safe as we can."

There is a level of understanding from the Newcastle United head coach's perspective as he continued: “I don't mind the celebration aspect - embracing the success that a team has had is part of football, I've got no issue with that. It's the aggression towards the opposition, it's swarms of people around one or two people.

“That doesn't sit well with me at all, that's something (on which) we have to act very quickly because we want to avert potential tragedy."