Stoke City: Shawcross ends hard week on high note

RYAN Shawcross had no complaints about his booking at Wigan, but is keen to move on from Arsene Wenger's foul play.

The 21-year-old was inevitably under the spotlight after the Arsenal manager's rant about the defender's supposedly cynical approach in Stoke's win against the Gunners last week.

Manager Tony Pulis had been concerned that Wenger's comments would affect the way referees viewed his players.

However, Shawcross was annoyed with himself rather than referee Mike Riley when he got a yellow card for a rash 10th-minute foul on Emile Heskey.

Shawcross said: "It was a stupid foul. The ball was rolling out and it was a silly foul.

"I was lucky really because I was on a yellow card for the rest of the game and could have been sent off.

"It affects you because you know you can't dive in and can't have another bad foul. You have to be careful, but I thought I did all right and didn't make any daft challenges after that."

In fact, Shawcross produced an excellent display, particularly in the second half as City frustrated a Wigan side who were doing most of the pressing.

The clean sheet brought a satisfactory end to the week for the youngster who had found himself and Rory Delap at the centre of the storm whipped up by Wenger.

Shawcross added: "It has been different. Me and Rory have been in the headlines quite a bit, and not for the right reason.

"But I just look forward to the future and hopefully my performances will get the headlines more than what Arsene Wenger says.

"I was surprised by someone of his calibre saying those kind of things, but that is in the past now and I look to the future."

Shawcross is fast establishing himself in the side having been dropped after the 3-1 defeat at Bolton on the opening day.

After enduring a testing return in Stoke's 3-0 defeat at Manchester City, he has helped Stoke concede just one goal in their last three games.

He added: "We are delighted with the clean sheet. We didn't play that well today, but it was a good away point. We defended well and hit them on the break. We had a couple of one-on-one ones, but didn't get that goal which I think we deserved."