Stoke skipper Ryan Shawcross backs Mark Hughes despite slipping into relegation zone after narrow defeat by Bournemouth: 'We will be fine'

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Stoke captain Ryan Shawcross has refused to give up on Mark Hughes after Saturday's 2-1 home defeat by Bournemouth condemned the Potters to the relegation zone.

The Cherries struck twice within two minutes of the first half when Junior Stanislas' penalty - which Shawcross gave away by tripping Benik Afobe in the box - followed up Andrew Surman's 16th-minute strike.

Mame Biram Diouf pulled one back for Stoke in the second period but a leaky defence which has conceded 20 times in nine fixtures meant they slipped into the bottom three on goal difference.

Stoke skipper Ryan Shawcross had an afternoon to forget at the Bet365 Stadium

The Potters hierarchy have historically backed their managers through lean spells and there is no sense that Hughes' position as manager is under any scrutiny despite their run of five defeats in their last six matches.

And, in the midst of that sticky spell, Shawcross has lent his support to Hughes.

'The manager is absolutely brilliant,' he told Stoke City's website.

'We had a great game plan but unfortunately we couldn't produce the goods. It was the players' fault.

'Obviously the players are down, but the manager is always confident and always gives you that boost. And like he always says, we'll be fine.

The defender gave away the penalty for Bournemouth's second goal in the 2-1 defeat

Junior Stanislas slots his spot-kick past Jack Butland to give the Cherries a two-goal lead

And as a result saw his side fall into the relegation zone after a fifth defeat in five games

'You look at the table at the end of the season, not 10 games in.

'If we can get a win next week then everything is a lot brighter, but it is 38 games this league, it's not nine, it's not 10, it's where you finish at the end of the season, and that's all our target is.'

Shawcross was making his first start since August due to a back injury but it was another recently-returned player who made the biggest impact at the bet365 Stadium, where Bournemouth picked up their first points on their travels this term.

Bournemouth forward Stanislas set up Surman's opening strike and then converted the penalty after his back-heel played the ball through to Afobe in the build-up.

Stanislas scored in each of the Cherries' final three fixtures last season yet missed the start of this campaign with a groin injury - a fact boss Eddie Howe admitted affected his side during their own difficult period.

But despite obvious frustrations Shawcross has backed boss Mark Hughes to keep Stoke afloat

And the defender has hailed his boss as a 'brilliant manager' claiming Stoke will stay up

Meanwhile, Cherries boss Eddie Howe welcomed the return of Stanislas' 'important' goals

'I thought we looked extremely confident, the players who haven't played recently came in to do well,' Howe said.

'Junior is very good, we missed him earlier in the season.

'He's a goalscorer - last season he scored important goals - and he's a creator too. At this level you can't have enough of those players and he was excellent.'