STOKE City are braced for a fine after picking up seven yellow cards in their 2-0 defeat at Middlesbrough at the weekend.

Despite the fact the game wasn't at all bad tempered, referee Stephen Martin dished out 11 yellow cards at the Riverside - seven to the Potters and four to the hosts.

The FA rules state that a club will receive a fine of £5,000 if six or more of their players are either cautioned or sent off in a game.

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The regulations rulebook states: "On the first occasion that this happens in a playing season, the Association may offer the club a standard punishment [of £5,000 for any Championship club].

"For each successive occasion that this happens in the same playing season, the standard punishment offered will be a fine that is double and then treble (and so on) the amount set out."

Stoke boss Narcis Pelach was irked by Martin's performance at the Riverside, particularly the decision to award a free-kick to Boro in the build-up to Ben Doak's opening goal.

He said: "It's not a foul from Koumas.

"This leads to the goal. It's a bad decision in my opinion. I don't want to talk about the referee every week but it's happened in my two games, that's true.

"Big moments can go one way or the other. If he doesn't whistle for the foul, it's a four vs two for us and lots of space in the transition and it's a big chance for us, if not a goal.

"It went the other way, and the players are complaining to the referee. I want them to be stronger mentally.”

George Edmundson, Hayden Hackney, Ben Doak and Finn Azaz were the Boro players cautioned.