Orlando City midfielder James O'Connor insists he wasn't gunning for Stoke City's Glenn Whelan during yesterday's friendly defeat.

Whelan was booked for barging over Rodrigo Lopez, then went nose-to-nose with fellow Irishman James O'Connor as tempers flared.

Ropey ref Marcos Deoliveira over-reacted by brandishing yellow, then to Whelan's disgust, a second yellow followed.

Ironically, O'Connor is a Stoke old boy who made over 200 appearances for the club.

The Irish midfielder, who moved to Orlando in January, said: "I don't know what the referee was thinking.

"If you're going to send somebody off in a friendly you should turn to their bench and tell them to sub them instead.

"I'd be really disappointed if he ended up being suspended, we don't want that to happen.

"There was nothing in it, we just want to win, that's all. It's a shame the referee didn't use common sense.

"I was as surprised as Glenn when he sent him off."