Blues pair frustrate Pulis (From Salisbury Journal)

Blues pair frustrate Pulis

7:26am Sunday 23rd September 2012 in National Sport News © Press Association 2013

Tony Pulis branded Branislav Ivanovic and Oscar "laughable" after accusing the Chelsea pair of diving in Stoke's Barclays Premier League defeat at Stamford Bridge.

Potters boss Pulis was fuming with the Blues stars, despite their failure to win penalties and the fact Oscar was booked by referee Michael Oliver. Ivanovic, though, escaped a caution after throwing himself down in the box in the first half when he appeared not to be touched.

Highlighting what he dubbed "the simulation", Pulis said: "Ivanovic's one in the first half is laughable and the lad Oscar, who's a fabulous player. This is England. We're playing in England, we're not playing in Europe.

He added: "And we can't watch people just fall over and not talk about it. That's the disappointing thing. We should highlight it and keep highlighting it and keep highlighting it.

"There are certain players in the Premier League who have got a reputation and referees know that if you touch them then they'll fall down or go down as quickly as they can.

"The people that do it, just keep highlighting it, keep showing it, because it's a part of the game that I don't think we should stomach and we don't talk about enough."

Pulis also insisted Chelsea should have ended their 1-0 victory with 10 men after David Luiz was shown a yellow - and not a red - card for a crude lunge on Jonathan Walters.

Pulis said of the Luiz lunge: "It's a dreadful challenge and I think David would be the first one to say he's very, very lucky to stay on the pitch - very."

Chelsea looked set for a fourth straight match without a win before Ashley Cole spared the blushes of their £130million attack with his first goal since May 2010.

Boss Roberto Di Matteo said: "I thought it was just a question of time before we scored. Obviously, when it comes towards the last 20 minutes, time is running out. But when you play against Stoke, it's always so hard to break them down and they defend with so many men and they're very well-drilled as well."