Hughes slams Atkinson performance

Stoke boss Mark Hughes hit out at referee Martin Atkinson after being sent to the stands as his nine men succumbed to a 5-1 drubbing at Newcastle.

The Welshman was ordered from the dug-out after he reacted in fury to the dismissal of midfielder Glenn Whelan, and he was still making his way to his new vantage point when defender Marc Wilson followed inside three dreadful first-half minutes at St James’ Park with the visitors leading 1-0.