ESPN.com · Jan 6, 2017
Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce defends referee Mike Dean pre-Spurs
Phil Jones gestures to Mike Dean in Manchester United's match against West Ham on Monday.Aston Villa boss Steve Bruce has no issues over Mike Dean's appointment as referee for their trip to Tottenham.
The official has been in the spotlight after his decision to send off West Ham's Sofiane Feghouli for a challenge on Manchester United's Phil Jones on Monday.
The Hammers won an appeal against the red card and boss Slaven Bilic said it was Jones who should have been dismissed instead.
Ex-top flight referees Graham Poll and Mark Halsey have also been critical of Dean, who has been a Premier League official since 2000, this week.