by Michael Baggaley
michael.baggaley@thesentinel.co.uk

STOKE midfielder Danny Pugh says there will be no FA Cup hangover when City return to Premier League action at Burnley on Wednesday.

Pugh came on as a substitute for the injury-hit Glenn Whelan on the stroke of half time at Stamford Bridge yesterday.

But he was unable to help Stoke back into the game as John Terry’s 67th-minute header followed Frank Lampard’s 35th-minute opener to give Chelsea a 2-0 win.

Pugh says City are bitterly disappointed not to be in the semi-finals, but will not be moping about when they travel to Turf Moor.

He said: “We still need plenty of points on the board to make this a successful season.

“We will be 100 per cent focused on that.

“But we are really disappointed to go out of the cup, especially after conceding to two set pieces.

“The first one took a big deflection in a crowded area.

“You see that happen time and again, but unfortunately this one went in.

“We knew we couldn’t afford to concede early on, but everything was going to plan until then.”

Neither goal subdued the backing from the 3,000 travelling Stoke supporters and Pugh paid tribute to their efforts.

He said: “They were different class. They are always brilliant and that gives the players a massive boost.

“Everyone knows about how good they are at the Britannia, but they are superb on our travels as well.”

Meanwhile, Pugh expects team-mate Ryan Shawcross to overcome the controversy surrounding his challenge on Aaron Ramsey last week which left the Arsenal player with a broken leg.

Shawcross, who served the first of a three-game ban for the challenge yesterday, was savaged by Gunners boss Arsene Wenger in the media, but called up to the England squad.

Pugh said: “Ryan was gutted after the game last week. He’s a young lad, but is a mature one who has his head screwed on.”