STOKE boss Tony Pulis wants the disciplinary rules examined after seeing Ryan Shawcross red-carded and handed a two-game ban.

Shawcross walked early in the second half after conceding a penalty for a challenge on Clint Dempsey– and now misses two games because it was his second red card of the season.

"There was a coming together," said Pulis. "I'm obviously going to be biased and say Dempsey looks for it.

"I know Ryan has his hand on him, but Dempsey is very clever at doing that.

"Ryan now misses two games and that punishment doesn't fit the crime. It's something we've got to look at.

"They get rewarded with a penalty and now we get punished again."

Pulis, pictured left, also criticised full-backs Andy Wilkinson and Danny Collins as the likes of Damien Duff profited to damaging effect.

"Both full-backs gave their wide players far too much room and allowed them to cause us problems. We never pushed on tight enough and that allowed them to dictate," added Pulis.

"There were also two or three mistakes leading up to their first goal. I also thought we should have been in front before they scored.

"To be honest, Kenwyne Jones could have had a hat-trick by the end because he's had a couple of headers and on another day he finds the net.

"We're in with a shout at 1-0, but the sending off and the penalty for 2-0 kills us."

Pulis revealed his script for substitutions was ripped apart by Shawcross's departure in the 55th minute.

"We have Jermaine Pennant, John Carew and Ricardo Fuller ready to come on, but that's blown out of the water after the sending off," he added.

Carew was thrown on for a lengthy second-half spell on his City debut, but was left chasing a hopeless cause.

"It's difficult for him coming on with 10 v 11," said Pulis, "but I thought he did well. He'll be a good signing."

MARTIN SPINKS