Saturday 15 April 2017 19:46, UK
Mark Hughes says Stoke City can now relax after their 3-1 win over Hull City saw them jump up to 11th in the Premier League.
The Potters had gone into Saturday's game at the bet365 having not won any of their previous five league games - including four straight defeats - a run that had seen them fall down the table.
However, goals from Marko Arnautovic, Peter Crouch and Xherdan Shaqiri saw Stoke get back to winning ways, with their manager now wanting his team to play with more freedom in their final five matches of the season.
"It was a big result for us," said Hughes. "There was maybe a little bit of anxiety around the place, only in that we have just come through a period where we have come up against really good opposition and it was always going to test us.
"We knew the fixtures around this period were tough, and that is how it has panned out. But this game was clearly one we felt we could get back on track with and then kick on for the remaining games.
"We are in a good position now where we can relax to a certain extent and maybe release some of the anxiety that sometimes displays itself on occasions, just because we needed to get the win today.
"As a consequence of winning today, we can now show a lot more freedom in the remaining games that we have. We are looking to finish strongly."
The match turned on its head when Hughes brought on Crouch and fellow striker Jonathan Walters just before the hour-mark in response to Harry Maguire's equaliser for Hull.
And it did not take long for the experienced duo to link up to give the home side the lead again as Crouch scored with his 49th header in the Premier League.
"We needed to make a change as we just needed a little bit more physicality up the top of the pitch," explained the Welshman.
"And clearly with Jon and Peter, they know each other's games inside out, as they have played many times together.
"You know that they understand what is required when they come on, clearly they are fully engaged when they come on.
"When they come on they are able to make impacts more often than not, and once again they have done it.
"And from that point onwards I did not really think we were going to let it slip and the icing on the cake is clearly the fantastic goal by Shaqiri at the end, who I thought played really well."
