Source: Northern_Echo
Hughton hits back at claim of feigned injury
CHRIS HUGHTON last night refuted the claims from Stoke City manager Tony Pulis that an unnamed Newcastle United player simulated an injury during Newcastle's defeat at St James' Park.[LNB] Pulis, who chose not to identify the player who had annoyed him, has called for the Professional Footballers' Association to make moves to eradicate such events from the game after a week in which his side's style has been criticised.[LNB] Pulis, constantly animated in his technical area, said: I was really disappointed with the way one of the Newcastle players went down and I think simulated an injury from a challenge and three passes later he was running around like nothing had happened.[LNB] The PFA has a responsibility to make sure players don't do things like that. It puts players and refs under enormous pressure. We have been highlighted along with one or two other clubs about being over physical.[LNB] There's other aspects of the game that need to be addressed.[LNB] Hughton, who also did not comment on any individual, angrily dismissed Pulis' claims. I would be very surprised, said the Newcastle boss. You are up against a hard-running side in Stoke that put themselves about.[LNB] If other managers say things I can't legislate for that, that's their opinions. I can only talk about my own team.[LNB] Hughton was speaking after watching his Newcastle team lose from a winning position, having gained a first half lead through Kevin Nolan's penalty two minutes before half-time.[LNB] But second half goals from Kenwyne Jones and an own goal from James Perch turned the scoreline around, leaving Stoke with their second victory of the season.[LNB] Hughton, whose side have now lost successive home games against Blackpool and Stoke, could not hide his disappointment. But he does expect to endure plenty more defeats this season.[LNB] It does put pressure on us, he said. We know we have to pick up results at home. There have been a lot of surprise results and at the moment every team seems capable of getting a shock result.[LNB] As a team that has got promoted we are probably going to lose more than we will win. The teams that have more consistency are those who have the better players.[LNB] That is why United, Arsenal are up there. This is a learning curve for us and we have to make sure that from the lows we bounce back.[LNB] I am realistic to know where we are at the moment.[LNB] My thoughts wouldn't change. It would be nice to say we will win more than we lose, but I am realistic.[LNB] Having defended soundly for more than an hour, Newcastle's resistance was broken when Stoke's aerial balls into the box finally gained their rewards.[LNB] We coped with them for the majority but it was all about pivotal moments, we also felt that we needed to get that second goal, said Hughton.[LNB] We were up against a Stoke team that upped their intensity and we didn't do enough to get that second goal. Stoke had a very resilient backline and we weren't able to break through.[LNB] We didn't create enough.[LNB] All you can do is prepare the team. There is not a team that face Stoke who do not prepare for the long throw, that's a strength of theirs.[LNB] You are reliant on players doing their jobs and marking individuals.[LNB] It is normal to be angry.[LNB] You are frustrated when you let a lead slip. You need to get back into the game and you need to carve out opportunities.[LNB] It was not through a lack of effort but we were up against a resilient Stoke side.[LNB] Hughton revealed that Sol Campbell missed yesterday's defeat after failing a fitness test on a groin problem.[LNB]
