Stoke City No2 Dave Kemp says Matthew Etherington is now becoming a marked man.

Some Stoke players were unhappy with the close attention Etherington copped in defeat to Wigan Athletic on Saturday.

"It's not ideal to see this kind of thing happening to him," Kemp told The Sentinel, "but I'm afraid it is part and parcel of the game.

"He's a top player and he's going to get knocks.

"What was also disappointing on Saturday was that their players kept collapsing on the floor, but the only serious challenge was the one on Matty.

"I know their lad got booked, but we had four bookings for nothing."