Wednesday 13 December 2017 23:03, UK
Stoke City captain Ryan Shawcross says the club's players still believe in manager Mark Hughes.
Hughes has been in charge since 2013 and has guided Stoke to three consecutive ninth-placed finishes, but Tuesday's loss to Burnley means they have made their worst-ever start to a Premier League season, taking only 16 points from 17 games so far to sit 15th in the table.
Shawcross insists he and his team-mates have not given up on their manager despite hearing chants of 'you don't know what you're doing' from travelling Stoke supporters following the 1-0 defeat at Turf Moor.
"That's the game we're in and the manager knows it. He knows we need results. If we stick together as we have done over the years then it helps a lot," Shawcross said.
"We know he's a quality manager, we believe in him. Unfortunately we are going through a bad period at the moment but, as we've shown over the five years he's been here, I think he's been one of the most successful managers we've ever had as a club."
Shawcross says Stoke showed signs of improvement against Burnley despite the defeat, compared to their 5-1 loss to Tottenham last week after which the squad were confronted by angry fans at a railway station.
"Obviously we got a bit of stick after the Spurs game, which was fully deserved," said Shawcross.
"I thought we put on a half-decent performance in response to that and we were unlucky not to come away with a point at least. We're really disappointed.
"It's the way it's going at the moment. Unlike at Spurs, I thought we worked really hard and unfortunately it was just that little bit of quality didn't get us a goal and then in the last minute they pinched the winner.
"We had dealt well with them all night, I don't think Jack (Butland) had a real shot to save, but at the moment it's not going for us. It will change.
"The lads are all gutted, the management team are all gutted. We just have to move on to the next game now and make sure we pick up a win."
