Charlie Adam: We need to "step up" in relegation fight

Stoke City midfielder Charlie Adam believes that he and his teammates have to step up and fight their way out of trouble in their relegation battle.

The Potters were dragged further into the mix at the base of the Premier League table as they fell to a 3-1 home defeat to Aston Villa.

Adam told the club's official website: "We have to step up to the mark now because we have just six games to go.

"There isn't time for us to wait and hope things happen, we have to go out and get the points we need.

"It is worrying, but we won't talk about relegation. We are an established Premier League team and we are still looking upwards. We need to get points on the board, though, there is no doubt about that."

Stoke face Manchester United in the Premier League next Sunday.