Pulis accepts Premier League class gulf

Stoke boss Tony Pulis admits that his side are noticing the difference in class Premier League sides possess after the defeat at Boro.

The Potters, one of the pre-season favourites for relegation, had to play for over half the game at the Riverside with ten men as Amdy Faye saw red for a two-footed tackle on Middlesbrough's Mohamed Shawky.

And they eventually went down 2-1 with Afonso Alves scoring an excellent free kick, before Tuncay Sanli's late winner after a Justin Hoyte own goal looked like giving Stoke an unlikely point.

Pulis was delighted with his side's work-rate throughout and feels those battling qualities could stand them in good stead this season in their battle for survival. And some fans may be tempted to use their £25 free bet to back them to be successful in that mission.

Pulis told BBC Radio Stoke: "The first goal is a great free-kick.

"We're playing in the Premier League now, we're playing against good players, and they'll move the ball around easily against 10 men."

He added: "Our lads kept working, and I thought they were smashing.

"To lose the game to a mis-hit shot, so late in the game, is disappointing."