Gus Poyet: 'Referee performance was not acceptable'

Sunderland manager Gus Poyet has criticised referee Craig Pawson for his performance in Saturday's Premier League game between the Black Cats and Liverpool, claiming that it was "not acceptable".

The Wearside outfit succumbed to a 1-0 defeat against the Reds at the Stadium of Light, with Liam Bridcutt receiving his marching orders early in the second half.

Poyet told The Daily Mail: "The foul [by Bridcutt] stopped an attack and if I'm being honest it could have been a yellow card. But by the same rule [Philippe] Coutinho should also have had two yellow cards.

"You cannot pick and choose - you either referee by the rules or by common sense, and I think the referee picked when he was going to referee by the rules and when by common sense, and that is not acceptable."

The defeat leaves the Black Cats 15th in the Premier League and with only three wins this season.