GRASS GRIPE TURFED OUT BY PULIS

FROM FRONT PAGE and his failed drugs test last term. And tension resurfaced after Peter Crouch rescued a point for the visitors, his late header cancelling out a Jay Rodriguez goal.

Stoke had toiled to make a breakthrough and Hughes blamed the grass, which he claimed hampered his side’s passing style.

“I didn’t particularly enjoy it as a spectacle or even being involved at management level,” he said. “It was frustrating to say the least. I shouldn’t have expected anything different, it’s always difficult here. I see they are cutting the grass now – they should have done it before the game.

“It slowed us down somewhat. Quite possibly it was deliberate, I don’t know. You would have to ask the people involved.

“We missed a bit of creativity and spark and a bit of quickness to our play.”

Baggies boss Pulis rejected the allegation, insisting the turf was as it had been for the opening-day win over Bournemouth.

“That was the same cut as Bournemouth and everybody else,” he said.