It was perhaps an indication of the progress made by his Hull City side, or possibly just annoyance at the blatantly incorrect call of the officials, that Steve Bruce left the KC Stadium a frustrated figure.
Despite his side being well placed on four points and having ground out a share of the spoils with only 10 men for the majority of the game, Bruce couldn't hide his frustration.
Unbeaten after two games, the Tigers' bid for the unchartered territory of a third successive season in English football's top flight has started in the right manner.
An opening day Premier League win at QPR had set a season of hope and increasing expectation in motion and, for 83 minutes at the KC, a good start to the campaign looked set to be a perfect one.
Because despite being reduced to ten men in only the 14th minute following James Chester's dismissal, the Tigers had the better of an anaemic Stoke City side.
Nikica Jelavic's goal late in the first half had been just reward and looked to be enough to settle matters. Only for a moment of controversy and a goal typical of the Stoke of old to take the shine off what had been a hard-working performance in the face of adversity.
Incorrectly awarded a throw-in by referee Jonathan Moss, it resulted in Stoke seeing a Phil Bardsley effort on goal bundled into the net by captain Ryan Shawcross.
It was the stroke of luck the Potters needed to find their way past a resolute Allan McGregor, who bounced back from his howler in a midweek European defeat at KSC Lokeren with a typically commanding display.
Having denied Shawcross earlier and tipped substitute Charlie Adam's thunderous strike over the bar, McGregor was at his best late on when he only really needed to be.
And that summed up both how well the Tigers had played and how poor Mark Hughes' side were.
It was no doubt that assessment which left Bruce far from content.
"Given the circumstances you would accept a point because we were down to 10 men in 15 minutes. But it's difficult to take and it's difficult for the players because the determination was manful to say the least," said the City boss, reflecting on the draw.
In truth, City had earned the right to take all three points following a performance built on resilience, work ethic and sheer determination.
If that thought alone is not enough to alter Bruce's disposition this morning, perhaps a glance at the league table will do the trick.
Tougher tests lie in wait, but after a favourable start to the season in terms of league fixtures, City have quickly got points on the board.
Four is a good return, with performances offering a further suggestion the Tigers have more than enough to retain their Premier League status.
Untroubled for large parts of the game despite being a man down, Hull's start offered an indication the game could have been a comfortable one had they not been forced into a re-shuffle.
Back with a familiar three-man defence, the presence of Ahmed Elmohamady and a home debut for Andrew Robertson was too much for the Potters to live with in the opening 15 minutes.
Not so much attacking but dominating on the flanks, with Tom Ince's pace and Jelavic's guile, Stoke were being pulled apart.
The visitors were left chasing shadows in the afternoon sun as City dominated possession and carved out a number of promising openings.
Promise threatened to become despair following Chester's red card, a decision Moss had little choice but to make.
Paul McShane's pass to Jake Livermore put the midfielder under pressure and when his back-pass to Chester had to be perfect, it wasn't. When stretching out and bringing down Glenn Whelan, there was only going to be one outcome for Chester.
Save for a brief period of dominance in the following five minutes as the Tigers struggled to readjust, Stoke offered little else before half-time.
Elmohamady was well placed to clear one testing ball, while Steven N'Zonzi should have done better with his header from inside the six-yard box, but Stoke were hardly pressing their advantage.
While the zip of Hull's attack had been diluted with a man less, the hosts had lost none of their control of the game. So it was no surprise when the Tigers took an advantage into the break.
With the crowd baying for Tom Huddlestone to shoot, he dutifully complied. Asmir Begovic couldn't keep hold of the left-foot strike from the edge of the box, much to the delight of the waiting Jelavic who pounced by the far post to scramble the ball over the line.
No doubt with Hughes' half-time tirade still ringing in their ears, Stoke emerged after the break with more purpose.
What they failed to emerge with however, was any real quality.
Marko Arnautovic and Mame Diouf wasted good efforts, before Shawcross forced a fine save from McGregor.
But for all their desire, the Potters were wasteful both in possession and when making the most of the crumbs the strikers were given to feed on.
Diouf in particular failed to ignite when leading the line and it took the introduction of Adam off the bench to bring some cohesion to the visiting attack.
With tired legs understandably taking hold, City began to drop deeper, inviting Stoke on.
The breakthrough finally came, albeit controversially, with Shawcross poking the ball into the net following Bardsley's effort that cannoned off the post.
Even then Bruce's men had an opportunity to win the game in the dying seconds, but Elmohamady couldn't keep his shot down.
Having opened last season's account at home with a 1-0 win and a man sent off, in the shape of Yannick Sagbo, City will feel history should have repeated itself.
In a just world, it would have. But while for the next 24 hours or so Bruce will bemoan a refereeing decision which he feels cost his side, it shouldn't take long for the positive signs to shine through.
His lead striker is off the mark for the campaign, his side reside unbeaten in the top half of the table and a defence which at times were both miserly and rock solid last year in assuring safety, have started well again.
Expectations may have risen, but not beyond a draw with 10 men being seen as anything but a good result.
The verdictA point with ten men in a Premier League match shouldn't be seen as anything other than a good result.
There is a tinge of deflation due to the late nature of Stoke's equaliser, but after James Chester was sent off in the 14th minute Steve Bruce would have undoubtedly settled for a point and remaining unbeaten.
The poor decision by referee Jonathan Moss to gift Stoke possession which led to their goal has put a touch of controversy to the game.
The Potters were pretty much woeful at times and with a man advantage never outclassed their hosts.
The Tigers will be content with the result and especially the performance, with positives to take into Thursday against Lokeren.
Player ratingsAllan McGregor: There will have been a slight feeling of déjà vu after another mix-up in defence. Unlike on Thursday, McGregor wasn't the culprit and he bounced back with a good display and two quality saves. 7
Paul McShane: Solid on Thursday in Lokeren, this was vintage McShane as he stood up to the task of holding off the Stoke attack. His partnership with Davies offered reassurance all around. 8
Curtis Davies: Led as he always does, by example. Stoke's long balls were food and drink to him, with his organisational skills key to keeping City's formation. 8
James Chester: Having shone in midfield on Thursday in Lokeren it was a day to forget. An early mix-up with Davies put the Tigers under pressure. On 13 minutes he was sent off for his tackle on Glenn Whelan. 4
Ahmed Elmohamady: Almost walked away the hero but couldn't keep down his shot in the final minute. The Egyptian worked tirelessly up and down the wing. 7
Tom Huddlestone: His left-foot shot late in the first half created the opportunity for Jelavic to score, but his performance was more about being without the ball than with it. 7
Jake Livermore: His back-pass to Chester put his team-mate under pressure and led to his sending off. Not as effective as others around him, but worked hard. 6
Stephen Quinn: A terrier in the middle of the pitch for the Tigers, his work rate in the heart of the City engine room went a long way to the hosts coping with being a man down. 8
Andy Robertson: Started his home debut well, showing promise with his attacking runs, but not as effective when City went down to 10 men and was asked to focus on defensive work. 6
Tom Ince: Lasted 55 minutes before a necessary substitution for a formation change, the 22-year-old worked hard to provide an outlet and did a good job of stretching the Stoke defence. 6
Nikica Jelavic: Had a physical and sometimes thankless task when leading the line on his own, but the Croatian international did get his just rewards with his first goal at the KC. 7
Subs:Liam Rosenior (for Ince 55) offered a calm head in a familiar back four (6); David Meyler (for Quinn 76) maintained Quinn's work rate and desire in a brief cameo (6); George Boyd (for Jelavic 81) had little time to make an impression as City came under increasing pressure (5).