Traore's In Trouble Again

But Pulis defends winger after clash with Oviedo

- Clive Hetherington

MIDDLESBROUGH bossTony Pulis leapt to the defence of Adama Traore over his sending-off for a clash with Bryan Oviedo in a stormy and absorbing WearTees derby.

Pulis claimed Traore’s push on Oviedo was provoked by a poke in the eye from the Sunderland left-back.

The Black Cats were also down to ten men after defender Jake Clarke-Salter was sent off for a reckless tackle on Traore, but substitute Callum McManaman snatched a point for them in the final minute of stoppage time.

Pulis said: “I was really disappointed with Adama’s red card. Oviedo walked round the side of him and put his hand around the side of his face, and Adama says he poked him in the eye – and you can see it.

“We’ll see what the authorities have to say about it, but I said to him afterwards that you can’t react whatever people do to you. Let’s just hope and pray that people look at it and see what Oviedo has done.’’