TONY PULIS felt a great sense of injustice after Stoke City slipped to a frustrating defeat in their Barclays Premier League game at Villa Park.

City's manager was not happy that referee Lee Probert disallowed what appeared to be a perfectly good goal scored by Mamady Sidibe.

It proved to be decisive as the Potters were beaten by a 61st minute header from Villa substitute John Carew in the Midlands derby.

"Sidibe's goal was an absolute injustice and there was no way in a million years that it should have been disallowed," stated Pulis afterwards.

"It's not the first time it has happened to us, but we have to take it on the chin and move on. I'm not saying their goal should have been disallowed, but ours shouldn't either. Carew's was a good goal, so was Mama's."

He added: "We did enough not just to draw the game, but win it. We had enough chances but we didn't make Brad Friedel work enough.

"We have to take those chances - Tunny will be disappointed not to have scored and Whelan had a few chances. He should have put his last one away.

Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill hailed his side's fifth successive League victory as "our most important and biggest win of the season so far".

He commented: "Stoke were dangerous throughout and we just about got over the line in the end. It was a great, great win for us.

"To go to Old Trafford late on Saturday, then Sunderland midweek and win both games, then to have Stoke here today and hold on, it was a huge, huge challenge for us. But we've got through it and I am obviously delighted.

"Stoke are a very good side, they put us under severe pressure. Our players were prepared to throw themselves in to challenges and get their bodies in front of balls in our penalty area. Make no mistake about it we had to give it absolutely everything today."