Hughes: Bad Stoke run down to tough games

Mark Hughes has calmed fears Stoke City are being dragged into a relegation fight, insisting their woeful run of form needs to be taken into context after a tough stretch of games.

Fans are calling for the Welshman’s head after Stoke slumped to their third straight defeat against Burnley in midweek – with frustrations on the verge of boiling over as a disappointing season draws to a close.

The Potters sit 12th but have not beaten a single side starting the match in the top-half side since 2015 and, with just 33 goals from 31 games, Hughes is reportedly fighting  for his job.

But Hughes insists Stoke’s poor form is down to a tricky run of games, which has included clashes with Chelsea, Manchester City and defending champions Leicester City.

Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images

On Saturday, they face Liverpool in what could be a pivotal match in Stoke’s season – as they try to extend the eight-point gap to the bottom three.

“I feel as though our run needs to be put into context given the quality of opposition we have been up against in recent weeks,” said Hughes.

“You could say that arguably this set of fixtures is the most difficult we’ve had this season and that continues obviously with the game against Liverpool tomorrow.

“We’ve gone through fixtures against Manchester City, Chelsea, Leicester City who are in resurgent form and Burnley away which is always difficult because their home record is strong, and it’s allowed us to drop a couple of positions in the league.

“Obviously other teams have benefited from less severe runs so hopefully now we can start picking up points and sides around us start to drop them because their fixture list will be as strong as ours has been in recent weeks.”