Stoke City Football Club

• Nickname:Potters
• Founded:1863
• Manager:Tony Pulis

• Ground:Britannia Stadium
• Capacity:28218

Potters appeal Griffin card

03 Mar 2008 - 08:13:39

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Stoke City will appeal the red card shown to to defender Andy Griffin during Sunday's 3-0 defeat at QPR.

Griffin was dismissed by referee Andy D'Urso for a perceived lunging foul on Hogan Ephraim, but television replays clearly showed the experienced defender had won the ball cleanly.

The Potters were trailing 2-0 at the time and saw their automatic promotion chances suffer a huge dent at Loftus Road.

"I've asked the referee to look at the sending-off again and I'm hoping he'll realise he's made a mistake," said manager Tony Pulis.

"If Ephraim had the ball at his feet, it would be touch and go. But Ephraim was nowhere near it - the ball was out and free.

"The player was not put in any danger by that challenge. Andy D'Urso didn't have the best view of it and has agreed to have a look at the video.

"The sending-off knocked the stuffing out of us, but it wasn't a good performance.

"Results-wise it has not been a good week. Things haven't been going for us but the lads are big enough to put that right."