Stoke boss Mark Hughes expects a Crystal Palace reaction after Sunderland loss
Friday 10 February 2017 09:47, UK
Stoke boss Mark Hughes is expecting a big reaction from Crystal Palace this weekend and has backed Sam Allardyce to save the Eagles from the drop.
Allardyce has won just once in the league since taking over from Alan Pardew at Palace on December 23 but has never been relegated as a manager from the top flight.
Stoke, who lost to West Brom last weekend, will face a Palace side coming off the back of a 4-0 defeat at home to fellow strugglers Sunderland but Hughes believes that result will only serve to galvanise their next opponents.
"We've come off a good run but we were beaten last weekend so it's up to us to go on another run," Hughes said.
"You would imagine, without a doubt, that there will be a reaction from Palace. It was probably the worst result for us last week because Palace will be better and they will make changes. It's difficult to know which way they will go.
"Everyone assumes, and rightly so in my view, that if you are in a bit of trouble then Sam is your man to get you out. Everyone is willing to accept that and you sense there will be a reaction, hopefully after we've played them."
Hughes also confirmed that new signing Saido Berahino is not ready to start against Palace this weekend and says he could also be without Xherdan Shaqiri and Glen Johnson.
"He [Berahino] wasn't unfit but not match fit. That's a longer process," Hughes said.
"We're probably not at the point where he's ready to start but we've got a two-week break after this game and perhaps he's more likely to start at Spurs.
"It looks like Shaqiri and Johnson won't be available tomorrow. We had a late test on Johnson and it looks like he won't make it."
Hughes met Stoke fans on Thursday as part of a 'Meet the Manager' event and said it is vital to keep supporters onside and insists the Potters need to remain as a top 10 team in a competitive Premier League.
"I am fortunate to be here, I am aware of that. Continuity is important, although it is rare, so if you get that then it is an advantage," he said.
"If you can stay ambitious then you can enjoy a sustained level of success, which I feel we are having here. We need to stay top 10. It gets harder to do that each year, because other sides have ambitions of being in the top 10 too. This year is more testing than ever."
