YOUTH boss Adrian Pennock is hardly a disciple of Neil Warnock when it comes to assessing referees in words of more than one syllable.

So you can assume the ref had a shocker after hearing Pennock's assessment of last week's officiating of Stoke's 3-1 defeat at Manchester City.

"I was spitting bullets," he confessed in the cold light of day. "I was disgusted by the referee. I thought he was a disgrace.

"There were two amazing decisions that affected the game massively for us.

"I'm not one to have a go at the referee normally, but he was so one-sided it was embarrassing.

"The boys worked their socks off first half against the current FA Youth Cup holders and a team still unbeaten this season."

Pennock was particularly enraged by the award of a penalty against Stoke in the first half, followed by the refusal to show a red card for a blatant sending-off offence by Man City in the second.

"On the first," he recalled through gritted teeth, "there was a great tackle in our box and their lad just fell over.

"But the ref gave the penalty and they went one up. Their bench and supporters couldn't believe the decision either.

"Then in the second half, our midfielder Andy Nicholls was clean through and the defender fouled him in their box.

"The ref gave the penalty, but the lad only got a yellow card instead of a red. I don't want to see anyone sent off, but rules are rules."

Nathaniel Wedderburn equalised from the penalty spot for a 1-1 scoreline rather than the 1-0 lead against 10 men that Stoke insisted they should have had by that stage in the second period.

A couple of slipshod moments in defence would subsequently cost Stoke as they ended up losing 3-1, but Pennock remained fiercely proud of his players and critical of the officiating.

"We did show them too much respect in the first half, but in the second half we got into their faces and kept the ball much better.

"We also had a couple of good chances and on one of them, Nathaniel's shot was heading for the top corner before it unfortunately struck Warwick Alexander instead.

"Thanks to the referee, all the little nudges and 50-50 debates were going Man City's way. People were laughing in the end because it was so obvious. When you go and play what is supposedly the best team in the country it is hard enough, but when the officials are against you as well...

"On the Academy side, I think we are little old Stoke. And when we play these big teams we don't get the rub of the green.

"People say it pans out over the course of the season, but I'm not so sure.

"That said, I was delighted with the lads in the second half and with how they kept their discipline in the light of the refereeing.

"I just told them at the end that they have to believe in themselves a bit more and believe they can be a decent side.

"Andy Nicholls has done exceptionally well for us in the last few games and once again his work-rate as a box-to-box mdfielder was fantastic.

"He's getting better, getting physically stronger and looks like he's going to score.

"David Platt made a good living out of that."

STOKE entertain Wolves this weekend with an 11am kick-off on Saturday at the Michelin training ground.