Pulis defends cup selections

Tony Pulis deflected accusations of devaluing the FA Cup after his second-string Stoke City team snuck past Cardiff in extra-time.

Pulis fielded several reserves in the third-round replay at the Cardiff City Stadium, with the likes of Danny Pugh, Ryan Shotton and Salif Diao eventually getting the job done after the regulation 90 minutes.

But Pulis rejected the suggestion that his team selection showed a lack of respect for the prestige of the competition.

“I will happily use these players for the game at Wolves,” Pulis said.

“But I don’t have to justify my team selection to anybody but my chairman (Peter Coates) because he runs the football club.”

“He’s in India on a lovely break at the moment but I speak to him regularly and he is happy as long as the players have a go. I have a 25-man squad and we pay players good money whether they are in or out of the team. When we call them to arms, we expect them to have a real go and show commitment.”

“If they were not good enough, they would not be in my 25. I’m pleased with the win and the players did all I can ask of them.”

“The FA Cup is not low on our priorities. But we now play Wolves in the next round on a Saturday and then have to go to Liverpool and Sunderland in the following week, and they don’t play in the cup. That’s a problem.”

“If we did not have the international games as well then there would be more room and teams would concentrate and pick their better teams for the FA Cup.”

Cardiff boss Dave Jones was satisfied with the efforts of his players, but the disappointment of defeat was compounded by the possibility of a serious injury to midfielder Stephen McPhail.

“We did not get the result we wanted but the youngsters did not let anyone down,” Jones said.

Of the injury to 31-year-old McPhail, Jones said: “It looks like he has popped his hamstring.”

“I think he over-stretched and just felt it. We’ll scan it to see the full extent. I could do without losing him.”