Redknapp Stokes the flames as he gives ref a roasting

Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp claimed to have broken one of his own rules by rounding on referee Chris Foy after his side’s defeat at Stoke.

Redknapp was highly critical of the officials after a number of decisions went against Spurs in a 2-1 Barclays Premier League loss at the Britannia Stadium Emmanuel Adebayor had an equaliser ruled out for offside and Spurs also had two penalty appeals for handball against Ryan Shawcross and Dean Whitehead turned down in a frantic second half. To compound matters the visitors, who had been chasing a seventh successive win, had Younes Kaboul sent off for two bookable offences late on.

Redknapp said: “I never complain about referees’ decisions – I have not done it in 30 years of management, never. But, I’m afraid, he got some badly wrong and the linesman...”

Spurs were undone by one of their former players in the first half as Matthew Etherington struck twice. Yet there was also an element of controversy about his first as Peter Crouch, another ex-Spurs player, appeared to handle in the build-up.

Spurs dominated the second half and pulled one back with an Adebayor penalty after Glenn Whelan was ruled to have tripped Luka Modric.

Tottenham then laid siege to the Stoke goal but without luck.