Stoke to complain over ref

Stoke chairman Peter Coates plans to make an official complaint regarding the performance of referee Martin Atkinson in their 5-1 loss to Newcastle on St Stephen's Day.

Atkinson sent off both Glenn Whelan and Marc Wilson, as well as Stoke boss Mark Hughes, in the space of five first-half minutes as Stoke surrendered an early 1-0 lead to suffer a heavy defeat.