Higginbotham settles concerns over disputed decisions at Stoke

Stoke manager Tony Pulis was pleased controversy did not overshadow the club booking their first FA Cup semi-final appearance for 39 years with this win over West Ham at the Britannia Stadium.

The Potters’ first-half dominance was reflected in centre-back Robert Huth’s eighth goal of the season but Frederic Piquionne’s clear handball was missed by referee Mike Jones as the striker went on to equalise.

When former Hammer Matt Etherington had a penalty saved by Robert Green seconds after the interval it seemed it was not to be Stoke’s day but Danny Higginbotham drilled a free-kick through the wall and Green could only push it onto a post and into the net.

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Pulis was grateful to be able to sweep aside any criticism of the match officials. We have been very unfortunate this year, we have copped quite a few (bad decisions) in the league,” he said.

“We were very good for 25 minutes and then when they get their first shot on goal from that it was disappointing.

“From where I was standing it looked a stone-banker handball.

“Matty came out in the second half and missed a penalty and that knocks you down again but great credit to the players – for a lesser team that would have affected them.

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“For two and a half years at this club, since we were promoted, we have been written off.

“We have got to three quarter-finals of cup competitions – now we have a semi-final.

“We’ve finished 12th and 11th in the Premier League and the players and chairman deserve a hell of a lot of credit.”

Stoke, who are into the last four for only the fourth time in their history, will face Bolton at Wembley

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West Ham manager Avram Grant was disappointed with some of the decisions his side encountered in the second half, claiming James Tomkins should have had a penalty late on instead of being penalised for a foul on Jon Walters.

He said he felt the referee tried to even things up after missing Piquionne’s handball.

“I think maybe this is the reason the referee started the second half very strange,” he said in reference to the award of Stoke’s penalty.

“Until they scored (the second) goal he gave fouls, a penalty, everything for them.

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“It was a penalty for us at the end which he didn’t give. What happened with Tomkins was more bushido (the Japanese code of conduct for samurai warriors).

“Maybe he felt a little bit guilty. I think it was the effect of the first goal for us.”