Referee Martin Atkinson told Stoke captain Ryan Shawcross that he was 100 per cent right to award Everton's first goal on Saturday, despite replays later showing he was incorrect.
Charlie Adam was sent off by Atkinson in the first-half, but that wasn't what caught the ire of Shawcross.
The Englishman only complained about the offside in the build up to Cenk Tosun's 69th minute opener. And he's now revealed that Atkinson defended his decision and praised the skills of his linesman.
Shawcross said: "In today's football you can't really jump and there's a bit of a jump there so it's probably a red card.
"The disappointing thing (was the offside in build up to Everton's first goal). We have had the advantage of having seen it again now but when I spoke to the ref he said he was 100 per cent onside and they are very good at their jobs. Obviously they're not because it was a mistake.
"We're disappointed with that. We worked on it all week, getting up and making sure we leave people offside, so when you do your job then that happens it's disappointing."
The Potters eventually lost the match 2-1 at a snow covered bet365 Stadium. They are still two points from safety, but Southampton and West Ham United, who occupy the two places above them, have a game in hand.
