Saturday 23 April 2016 20:15, UK
Stoke City manager Mark Hughes has admitted his side have been "extremely poor" following their 4-0 defeat at Manchester City.
Goals from Fernando, Sergio Aguero and a brace by Kelechi Iheanacho condemned Stoke to a third consecutive defeat where they have conceded four goals.
The Potters also shipped four goals against Tottenham and Liverpool in their last Premier League outings and Hughes confessed his side has to improve.
"The last three games have been extremely poor so we need the next three to be top drawer, because we have the ability to make that happen," he told Stoke's official website.
"It's vital for us now, given the time of the season, to get back on track."
Hughes urged his side to bounce back after their 4-0 thumping at home to Tottenham on Monday Night Football but said the Potters' poor defending hampered them.
"It's been more of the same from the game against Tottenham," he added.
"I thought we were in the game during the first half, but even then it was very low key and I think Manchester City were quite happy to have a game where there wasn't too much intensity.
"To switch off from the corner, which was something we speak about time and time again, was extremely disappointing and it gave them the ascendency in what was up until then an even contest.
"We had a reaction at the start of the second half and had a couple of good opportunities, whereby had we been able to take one of them then the game would have been open again.
"We may well have been able to raise our performance levels as a consequence of that, but as it was, once again, having enjoyed our best period they went up the other end and scored a simple goal.
"Defensively we didn't have the platform to build upon and that is something that we have got to address."
