Newcastle United head coach John Carver slammed the Crystal Palace "idiot" who threw a coin at Fabricio Coloccini during the 1-1 draw last night.

The Geordie skipper was hit while celebrating Papiss Cisse's opener in front of the Holmesdale Stand, and Carver says he came close to being blinded.

However, he was also quick to acknowledge that it was an isolated incident from an "unbelievable" home crowd.

Carver said: "It just can't happen can it? It has got to be taken out of the game.

"What is disappointing from their point of view is that they have an unbelievable crowd here, an unbelievable atmosphere - it is a fanatical group of supporters in that corner."

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He added: "It takes one idiot to throw an coin. I have seen it and it misses Colo's eye by an inch - another inch and it could blind him."

Palace boss Alan Pardew also condemned the incident, calling it a "shame" and "unusual".

He said: "I saw the referee come over to the linesman and hand him something.

"It would be a shame if that was an incident, a random fan acting poorly.

"If that is the case and that is unusual for this club if that is the case because we have a great record of behaviour so I am sure we will look into it."