Stoke midfielder Joe Allen has sort of semi-stuck up for Derby counterpart Bradley Johnson after the latter appeared to bite the former during the Championship match between the two sides on Wednesday evening.
In the aftermath of Oghenekaro Etebo’s 33rd-minute red card for a hefty lunge on Richard Keogh, Allen shoved into Johnson while the Derby man was busy giving the referee an earful.
This sparked a mini-scuffle during which cameras appeared to catch Johnson gnawing on Allen’s shoulder during a deep and passionate embrace…
BAIXOU O LUIS SUÁREZ NO BRADLEY JOHNSON, DO DERBY COUNTY pic.twitter.com/drD6mqS8t1
— Non Sense Football (@NSenseFootball) 28 November 2018
However, Allen has since sought to draw a line under the incident, testifying that Johnson didn’t actually gnash his flesh, just his clothing.
It might look a certain way but he hasn’t bit me.
He might have got a little bit of the shirt but nothing that I’m worried about and I don’t think it should go any further that that.
For the record, both players received a yellow card for their respective parts in the flare-up.
Stoke won the match 2-1 at the Bet365 Stadium as manager Gary Rowett triumphed over his former club to move his current side up into 12th place.