Stoke Boss Mark Hughes Admits 'There Is No Point Feeling Sorry for Yourselves' After Cherries Defeat

Another disappointing day of football and Stoke are staring relegation straight in the face after entering the bottom three, although manager Mark Hughes claims they need to jump right back on the horse after a stuttering start to the season.

Speaking to the official club website after the latest home defeat, the Welsh former Manchester City boss revealed his team 'weren't quite at it', following up a thumping 7-2 away defeat to his former side with a lacklustre display against Bournemouth.

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“It is a tough division, and whether you are playing top sides, middles sides or bottom sides then you have to be right on it, and today, especially early on, we weren't quite at it," claimed the Stoke City manager.

“We have just got to get back out there and get on with it because there is no point standing around feeling sorry for yourselves in the Premier league."

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With goals coming from Andrew Surman and a penalty from Junior Stanislas, Bournemouth inflicted a fourth league defeat of the season, although Hughes admitted the play improved for his side in the second half after a 'couple of errors'.

“They made a better fist of it in the first half and we were far better in the second ," added Hughes. "Unfortunately they scored two goals and we scored just the one, which is the most important aspect of the game.

“We made a couple of errors early on with the first goal and then giving the ball away, leading to the penalty, so we have to improve on that, but after the break I thought we were vastly improved."

As the games come thick and fast up to the Christmas period, the Potters will need to change their fortunes and defend better as a unit to ensure they get out of the drop zone and consolidate themselves comfortably in mid-table, something which they have become accustomed to.