Joe Allen defends Bradley Johnson over ‘bite’ storm after Stoke City’s win over Derby County

STOKE star Joe Allen has had his say on Derby’s Bradley Johnson after last night’s ‘bite’ storm.

Johnson was allegedly snapped sinking his teeth into Allen’s shirt during a scuffle at the bet365 stadium.

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Stoke man Peter Etebo had just received a red card for a foul on Richard Keogh before things spilled over between Johnson and Allen.

The pair got extremely close as teammates struggled to pull them apart, with footage apparently capturing the moment Johnson appeared to take a chomp out of his rival's jersey.

Both players were booked by the referee, with Johnson slammed by Sky Sports pundit Liam Rosenior.

He said: “Once you make a biting action you’re opening yourself up to all types of trouble.”

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But Allen has now come out in defence of Bradley, insisting the Derby star did not bite him in the melee.

Allen said: “People asked me at half-time what had happened and suggested I’d been bitten, but to clear it all up, that didn’t happen.

“He might have caught a bit of my shirt but I think we can lay that one to rest.”

Stoke went on to win the match 2-1 thanks to goals from Sam Clucas and Tom Ince, with Harry Wilson netting for Derby.

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Speaking about the incident, former Stoke man Jon Walters added: "There’s a touch of Luis Suarez. We’re hearing Joe Allen said to the bench he’s been bitten."

Fans voiced their opinion on the matter online, with one tweeting: "BRADLEY JOHNSON BIT JOE ALLEN AND HE'S STILL ON THE PITCH HAHAHA."

While another commented: "Bradley Johnson will get a retrospective ban for that, he’s literally biting Joe Allen."

Stoke edged out a 2-1 victory against Derby to jump up to 12th in the table, and now sit just five points off the play-off places.

Sam Clucas opened the scoring in the 24th minute, before Welsh wizard Harry Wilson equalised just after the break.

But the ten men of Stoke regained the lead through Thomas Ince, and held out to win their first match since October 27.