GUS POYET has no regrets about his actions after he was sent to the stands for the first time as Sunderland boss last night before his team salvaged a much-needed point against Hull City.

Poyet also described Monday as “a very difficult day” and that he had “never had one like that before” after the news of winger Adam Johnson's arrest.

The Uruguayan, who did not want to comment any further on the Johnson situation knowing that the club have suspended the £10m man, was frustrated on the sidelines at the KC Stadium when referee Mike Dean sent him to the stands nine minutes before half-time.

Poyet was furious that midfielder Jack Rodwell had been booked for diving in the penalty area shortly after Paul McShane had won a free-kick for Hull despite going to ground theatrically, although there was contact with Seb Larsson.

The Sunderland boss then lashed out at a drinks bucket and was ordered to the stands by referee Mike Dean. He then clashed with Hull manager Steve Bruce after sarcastically asking to shake his hand and saying something to him.

Poyet refused to reveal what was said between the two, but did insist that the pair had spoken after a 1-1 draw which lifted Sunderland four points clear of the relegation zone.

The Northern Echo:

He said: “I am old fashioned. I don’t want technology in football. What happens on the pitch stays on the pitch. That’s football, there is passion. I have shaken hands. Kicking a bucket of water over ... 20 bottles coming over doesn’t look good, but I have a good kick.

“Read my lips tonight (on TV replays) and we will see who said what. I was not happy with Paul McShane diving like he was in a ballet and not getting booked. Then Rodwell got booked. McShane jumped with two feet, like he had been shot, and won a free-kick. Then we didn’t get a free-kick and he got booked. It was that incident.

“But what happens on the pitch stays on the pitch. It was a crazy game and it was passionate between two teams playing for their lives.”

After leaving the post-match press conference, Poyet had agreed to go in to Bruce’s manager’s office to draw a line under the furore even though he now faces a touchline ban from the FA.

The Northern Echo:

Before that, though, Bruce admitted he was unclear what actually led to the spat. The former Sunderland manager was incensed by the sarcastic nature of the South American’s actions towards him and regretted trying to confront him in the technical area when he needed to restrained.

Bruce said: “I don’t know what I am supposed to have done. We all do stupid things. Gus had seen it differently about Jack Rodwell diving. The referee got it right.

“The reaction of Gus to that was that he had seen it the other way. What he says will stay between me and him. I am not sure what I was supposed to have done. All I went to his assistant and said Rodwell had dived.

“I didn’t even see him kick the bucket over. I thank the assistant referee for stepping in, I was a heavyweight and he (the official) was a lightweight. I couldn’t fight a fish supper at the minute.

“If he wants to reveal why I went in a rage then it’s up to Gus. What was said wasn’t very pleasant like ‘have a nice evening Steve!’ But let's go and have a glass of red.”

Sunderland had fallen behind to a clever flick from Senegalese striker Dame N’Doye inside quarter of an hour and Poyet’s side never looked capable of drawing level until the latter stages. Rodwell helped Patrick van Aanholt’s cross over the line with 13 minutes remaining with a hint of handball after it had hit his head first.

The former Manchester City midfielder said: “It hit my arm but they all count! It happened so quickly, luckily the ref gave it."