Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has criticised referee Kevin Friend for not being "brave enough" to send off Newcastle United's Jack Colback following a second bookable offence.
The match official decided against brandishing a second yellow card to Colback, despite a foul on Victor Moses in the 71st minute of yesterday's Premier League encounter.
The midfielder went on to score before Peter Crouch clinched a late equaliser for the Potters at St James' Park.
"Once again, the officials have played a hand," the Daily Star quotes Hughes as saying. "The referee wasn't brave enough to make the right decision at a key moment in the game.
"Given the yellow cards which were dished out and the nature of them, for him not to give Colback a clear second yellow was disappointing. He needs to be stronger."
Stoke are currently 10th in the league table.
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