TONY PULIS is confident that Stoke City's luck will change in the New Year after watching his side suffer their fourth defeat in five games at home to Birmingham City in the Barclays Premier League on Monday afternoon.
City's manager remained upbeat and couldn't fault the effort and commitment of his players as they went down to a scrappy Cameron Jerome goal at the Britannia Stadium.
And despite the fact that the Potters bemoaned referee Martin Atkinson's failure to award them a second half penalty, Pulis has every belief in his players being able to turn the corner after a disappointing run of results.
"Lady Luck has deserted us at the moment," said City's manager. "But I told the players afterwards that if we keep pulling together and they give us that kind of effort, it won't be long before we get the little bit of luck we deserve.
"I've been on runs like this a few times as a manager when things just don't seem to be going for you, but the important thing is that you don't lose confidence and self belief, and it was clear today that we are not doing that.
"What was encouraging was that the players gave it everything, everybody played today and we played some smashing football.
"I was also pleased that the fans were right behind us throughout, and so I do believe that if we maintain that, our luck will change sooner rather than later. Then hopefully, we will push on again in the second half of the season."
Pulis was unhappy that Atkinson failed to spot the shirt pulling by Stephen Carr on Robert Huth that should have resulted in a penalty.
"It was a dreadful mistake, because it was as blatant a penalty as you will ever see," he said. "But that's the way it's going for us.
"We had a good goal disallowed at Aston Villa, and the fact that we haven't been given a penalty today is an absolute disgrace."
He added: "We have created other chances and the good thing is that we have tested their goalkeeper. To be fair, he's had a very good game against Chelsea on Saturday and he's been absolutely outstanding again today.
"If we'd drawn the game, I would have been talking about the fact that we should have won it. I think Thomas Sorensen has had one shot to save and a few shots from outside the box. We've played a game of football where the opposition have done very little, if anything at all, but all our good play has come to nothing."
