Swans staying up ‘important’ – Sparky
STOKE City boss Mark Hughes says it is important for Welsh football that Swansea City can retain their Premier League status.
The former Wales international saw his Potters side suffer a 2-0 defeat at the Liberty Stadium on Saturday, as the Swans gave their survival hopes a timely boost.
However, Hull’s win over Watford means they remain two points adrift of the Tigers and safety with just four games remaining in the season.
There has been Welsh representation in the top-flight every year since 2011, with Cardiff briefly joining their rivals in the top-flight during the 2013-14 campaign.
Hughes, who won 72 caps for his country before leading the national side to the brink of qualification for Euro 2004, believes Swansea have the quality in their squad to get out of trouble, and admits he struggles to understand how they have got themselves into such a predicament.
“It’s going to be tough for them and it will be very close, but they’re a very talented side,” he said.
“With the quality they have on paper you look at their team and wonder how have they got themselves into this situation.
“We’ve helped them in terms of what they’re hoping for from the games they’ve got left.
“I’m sure they’ll do everything they can to stay up.
“It’s important for Welsh football clearly if they can stay in the league. But they have to go out there and do it.”
Stoke have now gone six away games in a row without finding the net, and a former Swan ended up having an unwitting part in their loss as a deflection off Joe Allen saw Tom Carroll’s shot wickedly dip over keeper Jack Butland to double the home side’s lead.
“Everyone in there knows that we weren’t good enough today and didn’t do enough to get a result,” said Allen.
“We have to make sure we react next weekend, it’s as simple as that.
“We didn’t start well and went a goal behind against a team like Swansea City who can keep hold of the ball.
“That made it difficult to get back into the game and it gave us a bit of a mountain to climb and we never really created too many major chances, to be honest.”