Huddersfield Town are to investigate sectarian abuse of Stoke City's James McClean which led to the match referee stopping play during the Championship encounter to address both managers.

Stoke City left the John Smith Stadium with all three points after the 5-2 win, but matters off the pitch dominated the post-match discussion.

Referee James Linington stopped play in the 64th minute, when the score was 2-2, as Stoke were preparing to take a corner to go and tell both managers that McClean had reported that he had received abuse from the crowd.

The Republic of Ireland international applauded when the announcement was made over the loudspeakers, where fans were warned "offensive behaviour is affecting the game and will not be tolerated".

Referee James Linington has a word with Stoke City's Danny Batth during the game

Stoke City head of media and communications Fraser Nicholson said at the post-match press conference: "Just to provide some context for that, James McClean is being encouraged to report abuse that he receives that's of a sectarian nature to the match official.

"He did it on Boxing Day when he was subjected to it by Sheffield Wednesday fans and obviously felt the need to do it again."

"We will investigate the situation and make sure the people involved in it are duly punished - and so they should be - because any type of discrimination to me is unacceptable," Huddersfield manager Danny Cowley said post-match.

His Stoke counterpart Michael O’Neill also condemned the actions of those involved.

"He's 100% right to do so," he responded when asked whether McClean would report the abuse.

"There's no place for this in football stadiums, obviously there's no place for sectarianism or racism, abuse of players or supporters or anyone for that matter."