Pulis to appeal N´Zonzi red

29 December 2012 19:33

Stoke City manager Tony Pulis plans to appeal the red card shown to Steven N'Zonzi during his team's 3-3 draw at home to Southampton.

N'Zonzi was given his marching orders after being deemed to have stamped on Jack Cork in the second half of an entertaining contest at the Britannia Stadium.

Replays suggest the dismissal was harsh on the former Blackburn Rovers midfielders, and Pulis wants to see any punishment repealed.

"The disappointing thing is Steven's sending off," he said.

"Steven has moved his foot across, Cork's on the ground and he has planted his foot in between Cork's legs. I don't think there is any intent there at all for him to hurt the lad.

"I think what might have affected the referee was Cork's reaction. Steven hasn't stamped on him and hasn't touched him with the leg that goes on the ground.

"So that's a disappointment for us and we will certainly be appealing. I am just hoping that Mark will have a look at it and, after some of the incidents that we have been involved with this year, that he will look at it favourably for us as a football club."

Southampton manager Nigel Adkins was delighted with his side's away point despite dropping into the relegation zone for the first time since early December.

"I thought we did fantastically well," Adkins said.

"We have come away from home where there is a notoriously noisy home support and our fans could be heard all around the stadium in the first half.

Goals from Rickie Lambert, Jay Rodriguez and an Andy Wilkinson own goal before half-time breached a home defence that had only conceded four times all season.

"We scored three very good goals and they have only conceded four here all season," Adkins said.

"I thought we dominated in the first half and I was really pleased, we started OK in the second half and we had the chance to go four up."

Ahead of Tuesday's New Year's Day clash with Arsenal at St Mary's Adkins saw plenty of encouragement in his side's application and adherence to a distinct game plan for Stoke.

"Stoke are a massive side and with all the balls they put in the penalty area you have to defend that," he said.

"Especially in the first half I thought there was some really good play and our game management was spot on.

"At the end of the day we haven't come away with three points but we have come away with something."