Pulis slams Clark tackle

Irish international Ciaran Clark, put another commanding performance in Aston Villa’s 0-0 draw with Stoke City but Potters boss Tony Pulis was critical of the young defender.

City’s Ryan Shotton received his marching orders for two yellow cards but Pulis was incensed that Clark did not receive any punishment for a challenge on international team-mate Glenn Whelan. But the 23-year-old did not understand why Pulis was annoyed.

“I got clipped and I was falling into it we got fouled and that was it. I know him well and that was the end of it,” he said.

But the Potters boss insisted on dredging it up.

“I’m disappointed in respect of the challenge on Glenn Whelan. You ask people to judge what they think.

“Goodness knows what the referee has seen and what he hasn’t seen but you have to be very careful what you say. You can’t criticise.

“You can’t say they are doing anything different for either side and I’m not going to do that, otherwise they will take some more money off me.”

However Giovanni Trapattoni must have returned to Italy happy in the knowledge that Clark is maturing into a dependable defender. The London born centre back admitted he now feels part of the first team.

“Hopefully he [Trapattoni] will have gone away and had a little think, mindful of upcoming games,” he added.