Mark Hughes expects Troy Deeney's grab on Joe Allen's mouth to be investigated by the Football Association, saying the Hornets captain "should know better".

Deeney played on after Jack Butland had put the ball out of play in injury time after Erik Pieters went down with cramp, which Allen took exception to and made his feelings known to the Watford forward.

He responded by putting his hands around the mouth of the Welshman, which was caught by TV cameras - and while referee Michael Oliver gave him a yellow card, more action could follow.

"It was unfortunate and unnecessary because we kicked the ball out when Pieters was down," he said. "The spirit of the game is to throw it back, but Deeney, the captain, should know better and tried to put the ball in the box and that’s when Joe reacts.

"I’ve seen pictures of raised hands and thumbnails in faces and that’s not really necessary.

"I’m not sure [if it will be a ban]. More often than not those situations get re-visited by people in authorities and decisions made as a consequence and maybe we should let that take its course."

Hughes was more delighted with the way Stoke frustrated Watford at Vicarage Road today, with the Potters keeping a welcome clean sheet after shipping nine goals in their previous two games.

Butland did not have a shot to face all game, in fact, with the visitors blocking every Hornets shot which was dispatched goalwards - although Richarlison and Andre Gray both should have hit the target with efforts that sailed wide.

"I'm delighted," he said. "It was an excellent away performance. I understood what Watford were likely to do, and the gameplay was spot on. They found it very difficult to break us down and we were a threat on the break.

"I don’t recall Jack having too much to do if anything, and that shows you how well we defended collectively. Once we turned the ball over, we were always a threat on the break and we should’ve scored twice more at the end."