Tony Pulis was understandably disappointed with Alan Wiley after
Stoke were denied a deserved victory over Manchester City on
Tuesday.
Pulis was angered not only by Wiley's decision to disallow a
late Ryan Shawcross winner at the Britannia Stadium but also by his
failure to spot a number of other incidents.
Pulis did not refer specifically to any individual incident
but was assumed to have been incensed by a moment early in the
match when Patrick Vieira kicked Glenn Whelan between the legs.
The same player also got away with booking for an elbow later
in the game so, after having Abdoulaye Faye rather harshly sent off
for holding back Emmanuel Adebayor early in the second half, it was
little surprise Pulis was frustrated.
Pulis felt the sending-off was correct, however. Faye took
the ball in a clean challenge on Adebayor but the Stoke skipper had
a brief tug at the striker's short beforehand and Pulis was not
annoyed by that decision but what he saw as a lack of parity.
He said: "When it was 11 against 11 I thought it was a good
game.
"I thought we were on top, we created a lot of opportunities,
a lot of chances.
"It was a good decision to send Abby off, but there were
certain incidents that I am not too pleased with.
"I hope the referee, if he hasn't seen it, will show the FA.
"We had a player given a three-game suspension after an
incident a couple of months back.
"The referee missed an incident, the FA looked at it and
suspended him for three games.
"There were incidents in the first half with Man City players
where I think it is as bad if not worse.
"It disappoints me. I am not asking for anything more than
parity."
Pulis was referring to the suspension of Potters defender
Robert Huth earlier in the season after cameras caught him striking
West Ham's Matthew Upson.
On Tuesday night's game, he continued: "The goal in the
second half is a good goal. There is no doubt Ryan gets up.
"Look at (Kolo) Toure's reaction - his head is in his hands
and he is on his knees.
"It is a good goal and why the referee has disallowed it I
just don't know, and it is very disappointing for us."
Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini was the happier of the
two managers after the draw lifted his side to fourth in the
Premier League.
Stoke had dominated prior to the sending-off but Mancini felt
his side should have made more of their numerical advantage.
The 10 men actually took the lead with a fine strike from
Whelan on 72 minutes and could have had a penalty shortly before
when Ricardo Fuller was brought down, but Gareth Barry grabbed an
equaliser five minutes from time to earn City a fortunate draw.
Mancini said: "In the first half it was difficult for us
because the ball was always in the air.
"But we fought very well and in the second half when we
played with one player more we managed to play better.
"It is two (points) lost because we played 11 against 10 for
40 minutes. We must play better.
"We had many chances to score a goal but when we arrive in
the box we must be more aggressive. You must have a chance and you
must score a goal.
"I am disappointed with this result because when you play 11
against 10 you must play better."
