Sunday 22 October 2017 12:07, UK
Ryan Shawcross has backed manager Mark Hughes to end Stoke's poor run of results that has seen the club drop into the Premier League relegation zone.
Saturday's 2-1 home defeat to Bournemouth was Stoke's fifth defeat in their last six matches and leaves the Potters languishing in the bottom three of the table.
The Cherries struck twice in 133 seconds in the first period when Andrew Surman's 16th-minute goal was followed by a Junior Stanislas penalty, which Shawcross gave away by tripping Benik Afobe in the box.
Mame Diouf pulled one back for Stoke in the second period but, having conceded 20 times in nine fixtures, they slipped into the bottom three on goal difference.
In the midst of that sticky spell, club captain Shawcross has lent his support to his manager.
"The manager is absolutely brilliant," he told Stoke City+.
"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.
"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."
