FOUR of Manchester United's young players had a narrow escape when Turkish fans stoned the team coach on its way to Istanbul Airport after their victory over Fenerbahce.

The stone smashed through a side window of the coach which was under police escort, showering brothers Phil and Gary Neville, Paul Scholes and Ben Thornley.

Phil Neville said: "It was a real shock but fortunately none of us were hurt. We all got showered by glass and I got some of it in my mouth but it did not do any damage - I was able to just spit it out. We were all a bit shaken but the coach did not stop."

"They were just little kids," said England full-back Gary Neville. "But whoever it was, a hell of a good thrower. The window just caved in a shower of glass and I suppose we were lucky no one was badly hurt."

It was the culmination of a night of intimidation for United, whose small band of 300 fans suffered a hale of missiles after Eric Cantona scored the decisive second goal.

United spokesman Ken Ramsden said: "We won't be taking the matter any further. It was just local yobs and that kind of thing happens all the time."

But United are backing the report of the UEFA delegates citing Fenerbahce on two counts. First, they switched the floodlights off while United were trying to warm up on the pitch before the game and then the public address operator whipped the crowd into a frenzy with inflammatory music and comments during the first half.