DIFFICULT FOR POTTERS BOSS

MARK HUGHES admits he faces “difficult times” at Stoke as fans demanded his sacking following this latest defeat.

The Potters boss has vowed to “take the criticism and flak, deal with it, and use it as a motivating factor”, insisting he is the right man for the job.

He said: “It is difficult times. We have to put shoulders back and chins out. We will address that and turn it around. That is my make up, as a manager and player. We didn’t deserve to lose but that is the way it is panning out.

“Their keeper made some great saves, and a draw would have been a fairer result. We have to take it on the chin.” Newcastle have won back-toback away Premier League matches for the first time since November 2014.

Rafael Benitez has lost just one of his 13 managerial matches against Mark Hughes in the Premier League (W6 D6 L1). Newcastle have beaten Stoke home and away for the second time in the Premier League, having previously achieved this back in 2011-12 when they finished fifth under Alan Pardew. Today’s result was Stoke’s first home league defeat on New Year’s Day since 1988.

The Potters have failed to keep a clean sheet in any of their last 10 Premier League home games.

Stoke have now conceded the first goal of the game 15 times in the Premier League this season, more than any other team.