Stoke City Football Club News

• Nickname:Potters
• Founded:1863
• Manager:Tony Pulis

• Ground:Britannia Stadium
• Capacity:28,218

Tuncay defended by Pulis

09 Nov 2009 - 08:39:21

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Stoke City manager Tony Pulis refused to condemn Sanli Tuncay's reaction to being substituted during Sunday's 2-1 defeat at Hull City.

With the scores deadlocked at 1-1, the Potters were reduced to ten men on 87 minutes when skipper Abdoulaye Faye received his second yellow card for bringing down substitute Nick Barmby with a reckless challenge.

Pulis decided to substitute Tuncay - who he had only sent on seven minutes previously - and the Turkey forward headed straight down the tunnel.

The visitors then conceded a last-minute winner when Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink prodded home right at the death.

"As soon as we went down to ten men we had to bring a defender on," explained Pulis.

"I don't think I have to explain the decision to him. He's disappointed.

"If I'd have brought Dave Kitson off, Dave would have been disappointed. But one of them had to go."

Speaking about the red card to Faye, he added: "I've watched them back and I'm desperately disappointed with the two decisions.

"In the first one, he books Abby and does nothing for Barmby, and Barmby's actually pushed him in the face.

"The second one, he doesn't touch the player. We can't appeal because it's two yellows so we'll take it on the chin, but I don't want to make excuses."