Manchester United centre-back Jonny Evans has defended referee Mark Clattenburg's decision to briefly suspend the League Cup clash between his side and Stoke City on Wednesday night.

United's 2-0 win was interrupted in the 29th minute when Clattenburg deemed conditions unplayable due to a hailstorm, a decision that has been backed by Evans.

"It was crazy conditions," BBC Sport quotes Evans as saying. "The wind was blowing hailstones into our eyes. They were the hardest hailstones I have ever felt.

"You couldn't keep your eyes open, which meant that you couldn't see."

The Red Devils drew Sunderland in the semi-finals of the competition.