Stoke has just 1 point from 5 matches after a 1-1 draw against Middlesbrough in its opening game on August 13.
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Stoke have picked up just one point from their opening five games, conceding 14 times in the process and Hughes has been taken aback by his team’s poor start.
Sunday’s 4-1 defeat to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park made it four straight defeats with the Potters conceding four goals in three of their five games to date.
After Wednesday’s League Cup tie at home to Hull City they confront their former manager Tony Pulis and West Bromwich Albion on Saturday and then travel to Manchester United but their fixtures up to the early December trip to Arsenal actually appear appealing.
“Scott Dann’s equaliser against Bournemouth has certainly got us on our way after playing so well in the second half of that match”.
“When you have the pace in the side that we have we are so risky, we have pace and quality that is backed up by Christian [Benteke] being up top he becomes a point for us to hit and with him being at top clubs we know what he brings to our side”. It’s the same team that got ninth last year and the two years before that. “If we can have that level again, we’ll have a good season”. If we don’t improve that, we don’t have a chance of winning games. We’re upset but at the same time we know what we’re about. “It was not a nice dressing room to be in when you’ve let in four and he has told us in no uncertain terms that it is not on”. We’re giving ourselves too much to do. You’d like to think or hope we’ve earned some credit with them.
“He’s our manager and he’s got our support”, the Stoke chairman, Peter Coates, said.
“We’re struggling to impact games in the way we’re capable of”.
“He’s been around the block”. We’ve got to stop shipping goals, clearly.
“We are disappointed to be where we are”.
They also learnt earlier this week that Pape Souare’s injuries, following a auto crash, could rule him out for much of the season. Generally we’re making silly mistakes and we’re getting punished heavily for it.
He has also been able to change the identity of the club. In Townsend and Jason Puncheon they have two players expert at delivering them, while Christian Benteke goffers added threat on the end of any cross.
And Townsend, who missed out on the Euro 2016 squad after suffering relegation with Newcastle, said he was back to his best in Palace’s 4-1 win.
In the previous round, a 3-1 win at Exeter, Phelan retained more first-teamers than he ideally wanted to and will not have his hand forced this time.
Townsend, who has made 11 global appearances since 2013, told the official Crystal Palace website: “It was a great day all round”.
“We need to address that very, very quickly”.
“This team has changed drastically in the summer, and it’s hard to change a team and change the style of play a bit to suit new players”.
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“The players have committed themselves really well up to this point, but we have to have a look at them physically now and try and recharge”.
