Diego Costa sharply divided opinion for his central role in Chelsea’s 2-1 win at Stoke with Blues boss Antonio Conte praising his discipline in the face of provocation, while counterpart Mark Hughes expressed disappointment at the striker’s theatricals.
Costa was booked early on at the Bet 365 Stadium after falling dramatically during a tussle with Bruno Indi Martins and seemed odds-on to be dismissed as he complained loudly as Stoke players appeared to take turns to kick and wind him up.
Hughes, a famed former centre-forward in his playing days, felt Costa was the guilty party by regularly over-reacting to challenges.