Stoke’s Peter Crouch slams ‘farcical’ clampdown on contact at set pieces

• Referees have been directed to be tougher on pulling and pushing in the box
• Mike Dean gave both Stoke and Manchester City spot-kicksDefending set pieces is in danger of becoming a farce because of new directives issued to referees regarding pulling and pushing inside the area, Peter Crouch has warned.The Stoke City and former England forward made his damning assessment after watching his team’s 4-1 defeat to Manchester City on Saturday, a game in which two penalties were awar