Head coach Walter Mazzarri believes Watford's poor disciplinary record is not a fair reflection and insists the Hornets are not a dirty team.

Mazzarri's side are bottom of the Fair Play table after picking up 32 bookings this season.

The Italian criticised referee Bobby Madley for his performance in the defeat to Stoke on Sunday and launched a defence of his players after being questioned about their lack of discipline.

Mazzarri said: “I want to make something very clear that the referee is just like us and just another human being and can make mistakes like everyone.

"It’s very important the decisions he takes are the same for one team as for the other team. It has to be the same outcome for another. If one team pulls the shirt of the other team player there has to be the same sanction as for the other."

He continued: “If a defender pushes a striker in the area then he decides it’s a penalty or to continue the game, but it has to be the same for one team as it is for the other.

“No it’s not a fair reflection [disciplinary record] and if you look at last Sunday the referee was not taking the same decisions for similar fouls."

But the Hornets boss insists he still has faith in referees and has called on his players to stop being penalised for showing dissent.

Mazzarri said: “Only on this there’s one point that I told my players that even if they are right they have to stop protesting.

"My team is not dirty and not always committing fouls. It’s a team that wants to play football and this is what we’re doing. The only thing I want to avoid is getting yellow cards for protesting."