Stoke City boss Tony Pulis refused to blame skipper Abdoulaye Faye for defeat to Hull.

Faye was dismissed for a second bookable offence after diving in with what referee Mike Dean ruled deemed a dangerous lunge.

But Pulis insisted: "I have just seen it on the telly and he hasn't even touched Nick Barmby, who . He doesn't make any contact and Barmby just falls over."

Pulis will, who now loses Faye for the visit of Portsmouth in a fortnight and he , was also angry that Barmby wasn't cautioned along with Faye when their feud started several minutes earlier.

"On the first one he books Abby and doesn't do anything to Barmby, even though he's pushed Abby in the face," Pulis complained.

"I'm not making any excuses because we haven't played well, but again a referee's decision has cost us. It's desperately disappointing, but we have to take it on the chin."