Tony Pulis: "Ba was too much of a risk"

Stoke manager Tony Pulis has claimed that signing Demba Ba last January would have been "too much of a risk" for the club.

The Newcastle striker, whose move to Stoke a year ago was abandoned amid injury concerns, netted a hat-trick for his new club as they beat the Potters 3-1 at the Britannia tonight.

"When we were going to sign Demba I think the price tag was £9m and the medical people, who are brilliant at this football club, thought that it would be too much of a risk," said Pulis.

The Stoke boss also highlighted his side's poor defending as a factor in their first home loss of the season.

"The first two goals were poor goals. The defending was very, very poor from us."

Stoke travel to Maccabi Tel-Aviv for a Europa League tie on Thursday before a trip to the Reebok to face Bolton on Sunday.