Hughes believs playing away from home could bring luck to players

Pressure on hosts to attack could suit Potters at Palace

MARK HUGHES hopes his players can benefit from playing away from home when facing Crystal Palace in tomorrow’s televised fixture at Selhurst Park.

Hughes believes that the Potters could thrive with the pressure being on hosts Crystal Palace to bring the game to his team.

Speaking in his Friday press conference ahead of the encounter, the manager spoke of the extra pressure a side can face when playing at home.

“At times we’ve been hurt by being the home team – because the onus has been on us to take the game to the opposition – and that can leave you open.

“That onus will more likely fall with Palace this weekend because they are the home team.

“Their fans will demand that they take the initiative and that will help us.”

City will need to cope with Palace’s attacking threat to get anything from the game though, with former Liverpool striker Christian Benteke headlining a group of summer arrivals.

Opposite number Alan Pardew has also brought in the likes of Andros Townsend from Newcastle United, Loic Remy on loan from Chelsea and former Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini on a free transfer as he looks to build on last season’s fifteenth place finish.

“They’ve changed things around in terms of personnel and I think maybe that’s a response to a period of least season where they struggled for results,” Hughes said.

“[Benteke] is a good player, that’s why Liverpool invested what they did in him.

“Some players just need the stability of playing week in week out; to build your form and have that continuity of selection that enables you to get to the level that you know you can achieve.

“They’ve brought good players in and I’m sure when everything clicks they’ll have a good season.”

Source: www.stokecityfc.com