Stoke City players were disappointed with ref Mike Dean's performance in defeat to Tottenham.

Dean Whitehead was shown a second yellow card for another clumsy challenge on Luka Modric.

It was the third time Dean had sent off a Stoke player this season and manager Tony Pulis revealed that he had contacted referees' chief Mike Riley in midweek to try to have the official taken off the game.

Midfielder Rory Delap said: "I don't know if he's judging us on our reputation rather than actions, you'd have to ask him that.

"Hopefully he can leave us alone from now until the end of the season."