Coventry manager Frank Lampard said he was "out of order" for hitting back at Southampton fans after being taunted during their stormy 1-1 draw on Saturday.
Lampard was barraged with abusive chants from the home supporters at St Mary's, including one that featured an unflattering comparison to his former England midfield colleague Steven Gerrard.
Championship leaders Coventry went ahead in the first half as Ephron Mason-Clark nodded in Victor Torp's cross.
But Coventry defender Jay Dasilva's dismissal turned the tide and Nathan Wood headed Southampton's equaliser.
After the fulltime whistle, Lampard went onto the pitch and repeatedly gestured to the Southampton fans, which led to Saints players reacting in a furious melee.
"I was probably emotional. The fans had given me a bit in the last 10 minutes, and I went on the pitch to give them a bit back," he said.
"It was really out of order, but I wouldn't have had as long in this game if I wasn't sometimes emotional on the pitch, and not a bad bloke off it.
"I was very proud of the players and then it got a bit heated. Not every game can be, shake hands and smile. We live for this game to be emotional.
"I'm not a robot. I had 10 minutes of that and I think I'm allowed to have a little moment."
BRISTOL TO STRONG FOR MIDDLESBROUGH
Emil Riis and Rob Atkinson scored as Bristol City ended Middlesbrough manager Kim Hellberg's winning start with a 2-0 victory over the second-placed visitors at Ashton Gate.
Ipswich climbed to third place with a 3-1 win over rock-bottom Sheffield Wednesday at Portman Road.
Cedric Kipre, Jaden Philogene and Jack Clarke were on target for the hosts, with Liam Cooper pulling one back for the beleaguered Owls.
QPR thrashed Leicester 4-1 in a nightmare return to Loftus Road for Foxes boss Marti Cifuentes.
Cifuentes, back at QPR for the first time since an acrimonious exit earlier this year, watched as his team conceded four goals in the first half.
Watford found a way through the meanest defence in the Championship as Luca Kjerrumgaard's second-half goal sealed a 1-0 win over Stoke at Vicarage Road.
Struggling Blackburn registered just their second home victory of the season as they saw off sixth-placed Millwall 2-0 at Ewood Park.