Bowen blames fixture computer for Stoke’s slow start

Stoke City assistant manager Mark Bowen has blamed the fixture computer for the club’s poor start to the season.

The Potters prop up the Premier League table with one point from four games, earned on the first weekend of the season with a draw at newly-promoted Middlesbrough.

Since then they have lost away at Everton and come unstuck in front of their own fans against Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur.

So, due to the calibre of opposition, Bowen sees no reason to press the panic button just yet.

“I looked at our first four fixtures and I highlighted to the management group that we maybe could come unstuck,” said Bowen, whose team travel to Crystal Palace on Sunday.

(Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

“Away at Middlesbrough, we would probably have taken a point, but the three games afterwards were always going to be difficult for us because of the quality we were coming up against.

“Of course, we planned to have more points on the board but it was very conceivable that we may have just one point after those four fixtures, and unfortunately that is what we do have.

“Is that what we wanted? Of course not, but it shouldn’t come as a huge surprise to us that we only have one point.

“Fixtures against Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at home are always notoriously difficult, as is a trip to Everton.

“It’s disheartening but we are ready to bounce back now.”