Preston North End keeper Declan Rudd jumps to the defence of red-carded team-mate

Barkhuizen was sent off in the first half for a challenge on Morgan Fox – replays showing the winger slipped and the momentum from that led to the collision.

Rudd did have a degree of sympathy too with referee Matt Donohue, in the fact he had to make an instant call on the tackle without the help of a second look – VAR is only used in the Premier League.

North End will appeal the red card but the fact remains they had to play from the 22nd minute onwards with 10 men.

Said Rudd: “I spoke with the ref during the game and he told me it was a red card because it was dangerous.

“Barky slipped and it did look worse than it was.

“The ref just gets the one view of it and has to react from that.

“We all know that Barky is not that kind of player, he wouldn’t go in and try to do someone like that.

“It’s a tough one to take but the ref has got a hard job. In our division there is no VAR like in the Premier League.

“There is no video evidence, no replay he can go and have a look at.

“He’s gone with the decision he has and it’s gone against us. Hopefully the next one will go in our favour.”

North End fell behind 17 minutes after Barkhuizen’s dismissal, Lee Gregory getting on the end of John Obi Mikel’s cross to score.

The Potters could not add to that lead against the 10 men, PNE coming close a couple of times in the latter stages to forcing an equaliser.

Rudd had helped keep it at 1-0, making two good saves from Stoke skipper Sam Clucas in the second half.

The first of those was low down at the near post, the second in a one-on-one when Clucas ran unchallenged into the box.

Rudd said: “I made sure I stayed on my toes, did all I could to make sure we stayed in the game.

“It was important to do that to give us a chance but unfortunately we couldn’t get the equaliser.

“The lads gave everything with 10 men – in the dressing room they hardly had the energy to get up and get changed."