Mark Hughes: "Hopefully we'll get better"

Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has insisted that his side have enough quality to avoid being drawn into a protracted relegation battle this season.

The Potters fell to their fifth defeat in six games this evening courtesy of a 3-0 home loss to West Ham United, a result that left them just one point above the relegation zone.

The Midlands side could yet end the weekend in the bottom three should West Bromwich Albion pull off a surprise victory against Manchester United on Sunday but regardless, Hughes believes that his side are "better" than recent results suggest.

"We're in this position. Maybe we've got some clarity now," he told reporters after the game. "We're better than what we're doing at the moment.

"We need get ourselves out of our situation. I don't want to be in a relegation battle. We need to recognise that and do something about it."

Asked if he remains the right man for the job following reports that he is now just one game from the sack, Hughes replied: "I know this group and I know what they can produce. We'll get a tune out of them and hopefully we'll get better."

Next up for Stoke over the festive period are encounters with the Baggies, Huddersfield Town, Chelsea and Newcastle United.