Coates backs Hughes

LONDON: Stoke City chairman Peter Coates has backed manager Mark Hughes to guide the Midlands team out of their current slump after Saturday’s 3-0 drubbing at home to Everton left them without a win in four Premier League games. Last month Stoke were knocked out of the League Cup in a penalty shootout away to Liverpool and lost in the FA Cup fourth round at Crystal Palace. Their poor league form in recent weeks has seen Hughes’ men go from fighting for the European qualifying places in seventh spot to 11th in the league with 13 games remaining. “We are not scoring enough goals

and not creating enough chances, but I’m sure Mark and his team are well aware of that and are working hard to put it right,” Coates told British media.