Stoke were involved in flight drama on their return from Portsmouth on Tuesday night when their private plane had to make an emergency landing at Gatwick Airport.

Players raised the alert about a burning smell in the cabin, after take-off from Southampton, and rather than continue to the intended destination of East Midlands Airport, the captain chose to land at the earliest opportunity.

According to Stoke, who detailed the incident on their website on Tuesday morning, the plane was a 50-seat aircraft which was met at Gatwick by fire engines.

Tony Pulis' side lost their Carling Cup fourth-round clash 4-0 against Portsmouth and their miserable night was made worse when, after landing at Gatwick, they continued their journey home by coach at 1.35am.