Robert Huth believes Mike Dean's decision to send off Andy Wilkinson in Stoke's victory at Portsmouth on Saturday was influenced by the Fratton Park crowd.
Potters defender Wilkinson received his marching orders in the 73rd minute after being shown a second yellow card by Dean for a challenge on Aruna Dindane. Despite being reduced to 10 men the visitors still went on to seal a 2-1 win, but Huth was left disappointed having felt the referee's judgement in dismissing Wilkinson was swayed by the home supporters.
"I thought at the time he was going to give the foul to us," Huth told The Sentinel. "The ref got excited when the crowd got on his case and gave the second yellow card, which shocked everyone."
Earlier Huth had brought Stoke back into the match, equalising Frederic Piquionne's first-half opener by heading Glenn Whelan's corner past David James in the 50th minute.
"We work on it pretty often," Huth said. "Sometimes we have had a bit of bad luck in recent times, so it was good it worked out. It was not so much placement for me, just a case of getting my head on it."
Two former Portsmouth players then combined to sink their old club in the 91st minute as Ricardo Fuller provided the assist for Salif Diao's winner, the defensive midfielder's first goal for Stoke.
"Ric has been doing that for the last 10 weeks, working hard up there, especially with one man off for us," said Huth.
"To go and get a goal in the 90-something minute is great.
"Salif is supposed to give us protection, so to pop up with the winner for us is great. He's not a natural finisher, but it's great for him and for us.
"I'm surprised he didn't have a nose bleed or feel a bit dizzy after that."
Source: PA
