Welshman confident improved performances can carry on after break
MARK HUGHES says his players are eager to carry on where they left off before the international break when Sunderland come to town this weekend.
Hughes saw improved showings from the Potters in the recent home games against Hull City and West Bromwich Albion before the hard-fought point away at Manchester United last time out.
The Welshman was disappointed that the break came when it did but has seen enough from his side to sense the performance levels can continue in a similar vein this Saturday.
“You can get situations like that and it would have been nice to carry on into a home game,” he said.
“We’ve had to be a little bit patient and wait for the opportunity but we’ll now get that at the weekend.
“The spirit around the group is great and everyone is really focussed on what we need to do.
“Everyone has come back in good heart; I think that they’re glad to see each other again and now we can focus until game time to get the job done.”
Stoke welcome Sunderland to the bet365 Stadium with the two sides occupying the bottom spots in the early Premier League table.
Both teams are perennial slow starters but Hughes and opposite number David Moyes will desperate to get up-and-running sooner rather than later.
The Potters have lost just one of the last eight home games against the Black Cats and that record is something that will hopefully be extended further this time around.
“We’re the home side and if we play as well as we’ve done in recent weeks then we should,” Hughes added.
“I think we’ve seen good signs in recent weeks – we played really, really well at Old Trafford and deservedly got the point.
“Everybody can see we’ve been working hard and we’re trying to get that first win on the board.
“When we do I think that everybody believes that we’re going to go on from that point.
“It needs to happen at the weekend and I’m fully confident that we’ll be in good shape to look to make it happen.”
Source : stokecityfc.com
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