James McArthur "scared" by Nigel Pearson incident

Crystal Palace midfielder James McArthur has admitted that Leicester City Nigel Pearson "scared" him during their bizarre touchline incident on Saturday.

The Foxes manager appeared to grab a floored McArthur around the throat and then refused to let go of his shirt as he tried to return to the King Power Stadium pitch.

McArthur has confessed that Pearson's actions ruffled him, but is now satisfied with the 51-year-old's explanation that it was all in jest.

"I got a bit scared, to be honest," he told the Croydon Advertiser. "These things happen and you see it quite a lot with managers and players throughout the game, so I'm not bothered by it.

"I've collided into him and he said it was only a joke, so I'll take it in that manner and we move on.

"If it's on and off the field, it's going to get blown out of proportion but there's nothing in it on my part."

Joe Ledley's header won the game for Palace as they left the Foxes rooted to the bottom of the Premier League table.