Sunderland boss O'Neill: Meyer did not play-act

Sunderland boss Martin O'Neill is angry over claims David Meyler dived to have Stoke City defender Robert Huth sent off on Saturday.

O'Neill - who did not see a replay of the incident until the following day - insists the official got it right.

He said: "First of all, I understand what Tony (Pulis) was saying from a general viewpoint because players do have a responsibility to try to keep fellow players on the field of play.

"I hadn't had a chance to see the incident until Sunday. I saw it and I still have exactly the same opinion, it's a reckless challenge.

"It's one that the referee sees very, very quickly and his opinion of it was my opinion at the time, that it was a red card.

"Now obviously, you can see he [Huth] has attempted to pull out at the end, but that's something the referee can't see in a split-second, and he still catches Meyler, and Meyler on the way down has hurt himself.

"This idea that Meyler feigned an injury - I'm sorry, I know David and David is as brave as they come.

"He has had two horrendous injuries himself that he is just recovering from, so from that viewpoint I think Tony is wrong.

"His general viewpoint about players having responsibility themselves to stop play-acting, I totally agree with that point, but not in this case with David Meyler."