Watford manager Marco Silva has criticised skipper Troy Deeney for showing a lack of composure and setting a bad example to youngsters when gouging the face of Joe Allen.
Deeney was handed a three-match ban by the Football Association earlier this week for digging his thumbs in his opponent's cheeks during the 1-0 defeat at Vicarage Road.
Silva admits that Deeney should have done more to keep his cool in what was a feisty match, with the long-serving striker one of the more experienced players in the Hornets' ranks at the age of 29.
"I believe, and he knows, that as our captain and an experienced player he knows the Premier League and that he needs to be calm and pass it on for the younger players. He knows what I think about the situation," Silva told reporters.
"The style of play Stoke played did not make it the best to watch and so it's not easy [to stay calm], but scoring is what we should be doing and we do not like this solution.
"I believe, and he knows, that as our captain and an experienced player he knows the Premier League and that he needs to be calm and pass it on for the younger players. He knows what I think about the situation."
Deeney will sit out this weekend's meeting with Everton at Goodison Park, as well as games against West Ham United and Newcastle United after the international break.
Daniel Lewis
