RICHARD Cresswell admitted that last night's agonising Carling Cup defeat was a kick in the very stomach that controlled the ball ahead of his disallowed first-half strike.

Cresswell thundered through and drilled past the on-coming keeper – only to turn in astonishment after referee Rob Styles blew for handball.

"It hit me right in the stomach," he protested afterwards. "Then I went through and put it away. It's another one that Rob missed.

"I don't know whether he likes to be the centre of attention, but every time I have him as a referee he manages to pull a decision out of the bag.

"Tonight he's made two of them. I'd better not say any more because I don't want to get into trouble."

Of even greater consequence than his disallowed strike was the decision in the closing seconds to point to the spot after Styles adjudged that skipper Andy Griffin had handled a cross from the Derby right.

"I've been playing the game for a long time," Cresswell reflected ruefully, "and for a referee to give that sort of decision in the last minute is very harsh.

"I had a good view and I couldn't believe it. I think everybody was in shock. But we had the chances to win it and credit to their keeper. He was fantastic and kept them in the game."

Cresswell sympathised with Ricardo Fuller after he repeatedly squandered the chance to add to his six-goal tally for the season.

"Strikers have nights like that. He's been good all season and normally puts them in. It was just one of those nights for him."

Stoke's exit ends a potentially productive route to first-team football for Cresswell and several colleagues on the fringes of City's first-choice Premier League 11.

"Yes, it's been a good run and we wanted to carry it on," said Cresswell. "It hurts to lose like that.

"On a personal note, I just have to work a bit harder to try to get back in the team. I feel I can offer a lot. I enjoyed my game up front when I came on and played against West Brom the other week. I want more of the same if I can get it."