West Brom 1-0 Stoke: Mark Hughes unhappy at Tony Pulis handshake snub

Mark Hughes was unhappy with Tony Pulis after the West Brom boss failed to shake Hughes's hand following the Baggies' 1-0 win over Stoke.

The relationship between the managers has become strained in the last week, after it was leaked that new Stoke signing Saido Berahino had served an eight-week suspension for "an FA disciplinary matter".

The 23-year-old, who joined Stoke from Albion for £12m in January, served the ban earlier this season during his time with the Baggies, and Sky sources understand Berahino tested positive for a recreational drug.

After the match, which was settled by James Morrison's early strike at The Hawthorns, Hughes appeared waiting on the touchline to shake hands with Pulis, but the former Potters boss walked straight past him.

Hughes insists there is no bad blood over the whole Berahino incident to his knowledge, and revealed his disappointment in Pulis's conduct.

"I was there for quite some time, and didn't leave the pitch area," Hughes told Sky Sports. "There was no handshake at the beginning of the game either.

"I always think as a visiting manager, I am a guest of their club, then they should be a gesture.

"I don't think so [any bad blood]. Not to any great extent. It has been a difficult week for everyone connected to the situation.

"It is important for us as a club and for Saido to get on with what we have to do and continue to work hard to get Saido back to the level he is capable of, and the only way to do that is to get him back playing games.

"People might have questioned whether it was worth getting him involved at all today, but he needs game."

Pulis played down the incident, insisting he thought Hughes's focus lay elsewhere, while wanting to move on from the whole Berahino episode.

"I shook hands with Eddie [Niedzwiecki, Stoke first-team coach] and Mark was walking away towards their supporters, so that was that.

"I am not interested in Saido now, he is their player. I am more concerned about the way we played."

Hughes also admitted his disappointment in his team's performance, in a match they never really got going in, despite enjoying the lion's share of possession.

"We are frustrated with the level of performance in the first half," Hughes added. "We got off to a really poor start, allowed them to get ahead, and that is the worst thing you can do here, because they get lots of men behind the ball and like to hit teams on the break.

"We made things very difficult. We played almost the entire match in their half but haven't created anything of any note, apart from one outstanding chance when Erik Pieters had a clear header."