Stoke City boss Tony Pulis has been assured his players won't be targeted by match officials.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger angered Pulis by claiming his players tackled like 'cowards' during Stoke's 2-1 win on Saturday.

Pulis feared referees would judge his players harshly in future games when they made competitive challenges.

And he sought out refs boss Keith Hackett, who insisted officials have been advised not to take note of Wenger's outburst.

Pulis, whose side travel to Wigan tomorrow, said: "I had a chat with Keith on the basis that I didn't want us to perceived as a dirty team. He told me that referees would be reffing games on what they saw and not what their perception might be.

"I'm more than happy with that and it's put my mind at rest. It has been worrying me that we would be refereed on what people have said about us."