Unhappy Stoke City manager Tony Pulis wants to see the Premier League clamp down on simulation.
Stoke boss annoyed at Luiz challenge; Owen 'looked sharp'
Stoke City manager Tony Pulis wants to see the Premier League clamp down on simulation and thinks Chelsea's David Luiz should have been sent off for a reckless challenge.
Pulis was left disappointed after his side's 1-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge on Saturday afternoon but he was more upset by the 'diving' of some opposition players.
Having criticised referee Michael Oliver for failing to dismiss Luiz for a wild, late lunge on Jon Walters, the Stoke boss also praised the match official for not being swayed by alleged playacting from Oscar and Branislav Ivanovic earlier in the game.
"It is a dreadful challenge and I really do think a referee of Premiership standard should see that for what it was," Pulis told
Sky Sports regarding the Luiz incident. "Michael had a good view of that.
"He has done well today, because he has not given Chelsea any penalties. There were three or four incidents that we have watched on the telly and people have just thrown themselves to the ground.
Enormous pressure
"That is a bugbear with me. When players do that, they should be highlighted. There are one or two players in the Premiership now who people know will go down very easily.
"We have got to do that (highlight players). Forget what they are doing in Europe, this is England. This is our game and people like that should be highlighted.
"Ivanovic's fall - he is a great player - Oscar went over a couple of times, it just puts enormous pressure and I thought Michael did well in not submitting to the pressure of those decisions."
Ashley Cole's 85th minute goal, the full-back's first in more than two years, was the only difference between Stoke and Chelsea.
And while Pulis was pleased with the overall performance of his team, he was disappointed they did not make the most of counter-attacks after Walters had headed against the crossbar in the first half.
Opportunities
"Jon should score the set-play," he said. "But I also thought we picked our passes a lot better and had good opportunities and chances to score or hit the target.
"We did not do that as well as we must do, especially against the bigger sides."
Michael Owen was introduced for the final 26 minutes against Chelsea, which built on his one-minute appearance against Manchester City.
And Pulis will continue to gradually introduce the striker, who joined the club at the beginning of September on a one-year contract, as he builds his fitness.
"Michael has been brilliant and I thought, when he came on, he looked sharp," he said. "We are really keen to get him involved.
"But we will make sure we take our time and make sure he is ready for it."
