Stoke boss Tony Pulis was left to regret failing to sign Wolves defender Jody Craddock two years ago after his double second-half blast rescued a point for Mick McCarthy's side.

Craddock spent a successful loan spell at Stoke and, with his opportunities limited at Molineux, he was poised to make a permanent switch.

But Wolves then suffered a series of injuries and the deal never went through.

Craddock, 34, had previously scored only eight league goals in six years at Wolves.

His brace helped Wolves recover from conceding a George Elokobi own goal and a Matthew Etherington volley to draw 2-2 at the Britannia Stadium.

Pulis confirmed: "We tried to make Jody Craddock's loan move permanent a couple of years ago.

"We liked Jody. At the time we thought we could get a deal done.

"Unfortunately at the time, Wolves picked up a couple of injuries and it wasn't done."

Pulis was unhappy with Craddock's opening goal and felt it was offside as his side surrendered the initiative after dominating the first half.

He said: "The disappointing thing was that the referee blew for half-time.

"If the game had continued, we would have kept the momentum going.

"Then they score at the start of the second half and it gives them a massive lift and knocks our lads.

"The free-kick leading to the goal was a poor decision to start with and Craddock looks a yard offside.

"They've been given a leg-up by the officials there and from there on we took a step back and they pushed on."

Wolves boss Mick McCarthy admitted after his side's third successive draw: "Jody nearly left us. We had Gary Breen at the time.

"He came here to Stoke, Tony did like him but he came back to us and he has just been brilliant.

"He actually nearly went out on loan again last season but stayed with us.

"He wasn't playing but then he got back in, became captain and lifted the Championship trophy. He is resilient.

"It shows experience counts for a lot. It is not all about youthful legs at centre-back.

"It is important knowing how to defend as well.

"Mind you, I didn't expect him to score two goals as well but he does attack the ball."

McCarthy was disappointed not to have claimed all three points after his side's fightback.

He said: "We have scored from a free-kick and a corner which is usually Stoke's domain.

"But I am disappointed we have drawn. They were in control of the first half by a good margin.

"But we dominated the second half by a greater margin and could have won the game."