Saturday 19 December 2015 20:29, UK
Tony Pulis insists refereeing decisions cost his side as West Brom slumped to defeat at home to Bournemouth.
Charlie Daniels scored a penalty in the 87th minute which proved to be the match-winning goal and Pulis feels the decision to award the spot-kick was one of a few game-changing decisions.
The West Brom boss praised his side for getting back into the game at 1-0 down, but refused to condone the actions of James McClean and Solomon Rondon. Both players were sent off as the Baggies ended the game with nine men.
"We were very, very slow out of the blocks. The first 20 minutes we were second best," Pulis told Sky Sports.
"I think Bournemouth were the better team, then James [McClean] gets sent off. He reacts to a challenge on him from Smith, where Smith goes over the ball and the referee doesn't even give a free-kick.
"He's followed that up within 30 seconds with a silly challenge. If Mike Dean gives the first free-kick it doesn't happen, but that doesn't condone what James has done, he's just been very reckless. That changes the game.
"Second half, they score a goal which is disappointing outside the box. We let the goal in then, and then [Craig] Dawson really and truthfully should have made it 2-1 to us.
"The penalty is not in the box, it was outside the box. Those little breaks make the difference. We showed a lot of spirit second half and we had the better chances with 10 men.
Rondon and McClean are both set to miss three games for West Brom and Pulis admits it is a bitter blow to lose two important players during the Christmas period.
"The disappointing thing is that Solomon [Rondon] gets sent off. That is stupid from him. He shouldn't have got involved in that," Pulis added.
"The emotion of knowing it wasn't a penalty and being disappointed with that again has led to a bad reaction from him and you can't allow that to happen. We have got two suspended for three games and that's a massive blow for us. Two big players."
