Newcastle United manager Steve McClaren was left frustrated as Stoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland produced a match-winning performance at the Britannia Stadium on Wednesday night.
Xherdan Shaqiri's 80th-minute strike proved to be the difference as the Magpies succumbed to a 1-0 defeat to the Potters but it could have been a different story if Butland had not been at his best against the Magpies.
Newcastle could have equalised in injury-time, but Butland produced a brilliant save to stop Seydou Doumbia's header from finding it's way into the back of the net.
"I'm glad we don't have to play against Jack Butland every week," McClaren said.
"He denied us victory at St James' Park (earlier this season) and tonight he denied us a point I think we deserved. It's cruel that we lost.
"I couldn't fault the players. We were organised, hard to beat, compact and we frustrated Stoke, they had one shot in the second half and scored.
"If we continue that hard work then I'll get what we deserve.
"It's difficult to stomach but you have to."
