He said: "It's pretty galling to look my players in the eye when they've got nothing. It was a tough result to take. Last year things were falling for us but not this year. There are a lot of causes for concern this season, such as the Europa League and our injury list, but there is no point in us harping on about them.
"Even with the defeat we will grow in confidence from this. We've got Wigan on Monday night and we're going to have to win it."
Pulis would undoubtedly sympathise with Pardew. Last season his own league campaign was damaged by sojourns in the Europa League, with his squad stretched to the limit and picking up frequent injuries.
Pardew had 11 players unavailable here and the dismal performance at Southampton last weekend only served to evoke dreaded memories of their relegation season four campaigns ago. No surprise, then, that he had described the current malaise as his toughest challenge so far.
Stoke's Britannia icebox remains one of the most difficult venues in the country to pilfer points, with Sunderland the last team to secure a successful raid, back in February.
Peter Crouch was withdrawn minus three teeth after being caught in the face by Fabricio Coloccin, and the visitors then took the lead two minutes into the second period. Glenn Whelan was robbed by Cheick Tiote and the ball broke to Demba Ba whose shot was spilled by Asmir Begovic, with Cisse converting the rebound.
Pulis fidgeted constantly in his technical area and finally made the changes his team were crying out for 22 minutes from time, bringing on Michael Kightly and Jerome. Stoke levelled when Jonathan Walters nodded in Jerome's cross and then Jerome displayed pace and power to beat Tim Krul from close range, underlining his unwanted reputation as Stoke's super-sub.
Match details
Stoke (4-5-1): Begovic; Shotton, Huth, Shawcross, Cameron; Walters, Nzonzi, Adam (Kightly 67), Whelan, Etherington (Jerome 68); Crouch (Jones 40).
Subs: Sorensen, Palacios, Whitehead, Upson. Booked Adam, Cameron.
Goals: Walters 81, Jerome 85
Newcastle (4-4-2): Krul, Simpson, Coloccini, Williamson, Santon, Anita, Perch, Tiote, Gutierrez, Ba, Cisse.
Subs: Elliot, Bigirimana, Marveaux, Sammy Ameobi, Ranger, Ferguson, Tavernier. Booked Santon, Perch.
Goal: Cisse 47
Referee: H Webb (S Yorks).
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